Pharmacy Technician FAQ

1. What do pharmacy technicians do?

Pharmacy technicians work in retail or institutional facilities and assist pharmacists in formulating, labeling, and dispensing medications. According to the U.S. Department of Labor about 75% of pharmacy technicians work in a retail setting, while 16% work in hospitals.

2. What is the job market for a pharmacy technician?

The pharmacy technician field is a part of the growing healthcare industry as well as one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the nation. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics projects:

• A rapidly expanding job market as the field is predicted to grow by 31%, or almost 100,000 new jobs, before 2018.
• High demand and good job prospects for pharmacy technicians with formal training or certification.
• A growing number of professionals needed in the field to meet the high demand for prescriptions fueled by an aging population and continued scientific advances.

3. How much can I earn as a pharmacy technician?

The U.S. Department of Labor report states that the middle 50% of pharmacy technicians nationwide earn between $23,020 and $33,820 annually. You many also qualify for benefits as a pharmacy technician. The Eugene Vocational School Pharmacy Technician program prepares students for the national certification exam after graduation, which increases earning potential, marketability, and flexibility.

4. Do I need to be certified?

Eugene Vocational School graduates are prepared for national certification offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the ExCPT exam offered by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians. Although certification is not required in all states, certified pharmacy technicians enjoy increase pay, greater marketability, and more flexibility to choose from a wider variety of positions or geographies.

To determine whether your state of residency requires national certification, please refer to your state board of pharmacy's website or our State Requirements pdf.

5. What are the advantages of training with Eugene Vocational School?

Eugene Vocational School has been producing quality healthcare professionals for almost 20 years and offers a comprehensive training program that thoroughly prepares students for to work as pharmacy technicians. You will study online, on your own schedule and at your own pace, and with Eugene Vocational School you know you're getting the right education; personal, on-going support; and the resources and guidance you need to turn your education into a job. You'll simultaneously train to work in both retail and institutional settings and will be prepared to sit for national certification exams immediately after graduation.

6. What kind of skills or experience do I need to enter the Eugene Vocational School program?

You must possess a high school diploma or GED and be at least 18 years of age. There are no specific skills or experience that are considered prerequisites for entry into the Eugene Vocational School training program.

7. Is Eugene Vocational School accredited?

Eugene Vocational School (our partner school) is currently pursuing national accreditation.

8. How is the Eugene Vocational School Pharmacy Technician program structured?

The Eugene Vocational School program is offered entirely online, providing 24/7 access to all material and allowing you to progress through the curriculum on your own schedule and at your own pace. The program is broken into modules, or course subjects, all of which focus on helping you build the essential knowledge and skills of a pharmacy technician. The final exam of the course is designed to provide an experience similar to that of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Exam, ensuring that you are prepared as possible to sit for national certification immediately upon graduation.

To learn more about the individual modules within the program, please visit our Program Overview page.

9. What type of student support does Eugene Vocational School offer?

Eugene Vocational School student support includes access to:

• Student Support Advisors who have professional experience in the industry and are uniquely qualified to answer questions about both the curriculum and the industry. They provide timely answers to questions about the program material and offer a number of personal consultations throughout the training to help students master important concepts.
• Technical Support Advisors who are knowledgeable, experienced, and available six days a week to help you work through any technical or computer issues encountered within the training program.
• Though the course is entirely online, you'll never be on your own. Eugene Vocational School’s student support team will always be there to offer personal, on-going support all the way through the training program.

10. How long does it take to finish the course?

The Eugene Vocational School Pharmacy Technician training program is estimated at 285 completion hours. Since the program is completely self-paced and the online training format allows you the flexibility to study as much or as little as your schedule allows, the time it takes you to complete the course will vary from other students. Some students are able to complete their training program in as little as two or three months (working on the course full-time, 8 hours a day 5 days a week) and others, who are more limited in the time they can devote to the course, take longer (for example, students who can devote about 15 hours a week may finish in about 5 months).

Every student who enrolls in a Eugene Vocational School training program receives an initial 3-month period of enrollment–and we currently offer an additional 3 months at no extra charge! You'll have a full 6 months to complete the program. If you need extra time to complete the course after your initial 6-month enrollment, we have 3-month extensions available for purchase.

11. How do I find work after graduation?

Eugene Vocational School offers personalized, post-graduation resources for your job search, including:

• Personal consultation with a Graduate Advisor
• Personalized interview tutorials and training
• Individual resume and cover letter review, tips, and advice
• Access to Eugene Vocational School’s help hotline for a full year after graduation

These resources offer the personalized help you need after graduation to quickly and easily transition to the workplace. With this individualized help and attention, the majority of our graduates are hired within a few months of graduation.

Before you graduate from the program, you will also complete a module that includes an extensive discussion on finding work after graduation and the requirements of each state. For more information on the requirements of each state, please view our State Requirements pdf

12. What materials and computer specifications are required to complete the course?

Your enrollment includes everything you will need to train for a successful career in medical coding and billing. Your enrollment includes:

• Access to expert-created curriculum
• Unlimited student and technical support
• A Pocket Guide for Technicians brand name to generic name drug reference book
• Valuable graduate resources

Since the course is completely online, your computer will play an important role in your learning experience. We recommend the following minimum computer system specifications:

Hardware

• Active internet connection (High speed/Broadband connection recommended)
• 800 X 600 minimum resolution (1024 X 768 or higher recommended)
• Sound card and speakers (Earphones recommended)
• Available USB port

Software

• Adobe Flash Player (ver. 10 or higher)
• Windows Media Player (ver. 10 or higher) or Quicktime Player (ver. 7 or higher)
• PDF reader

Browser

• Internet Explorer 7.x/8.x
• Firefox 3.x
• Safari 4.x or greater (Mac only)
• Javascript and cookies must be enabled

Operating System

• Microsoft Windows (XP®, Vista®, 7 with latest service pack)
• Mac OS X (10.4.11 or greater)*

13. What payment options does Eugene Vocational School offer?

We realize that one of the most important questions tied to education is how it will be paid for. Because this is such a big part of the decision of whether or not to go back to school, Eugene Vocational School has designed several tuition assistance and payment options. Please visit our Tuition Assistance page for more information on the available payment options.

14. How soon will I receive my materials?

It takes 2 to 3 business days to process the application, depending on method of payment. Once the payment is processed you will be emailed your course login and password and can start training immediately. Additional course materials are shipped UPS Ground after the payment is processed. The average wait is about 7-10 days.