Looking to get a pharmacy technician license in Pennsylvania? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania.
Updated in 2022!
Does Pennsylvania regulate pharmacy technicians?
No.
Is certification required to be a pharmacy tech in Pennsylvania?
No. Bear in mind, however, that national certification provides recognition of your knowledge and skills and may make you more marketable, particularly to the large chain pharmacies.
What certification exam(s) is/are approved by the state?
None, but the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association recommends PTCB certification.
When is registration required?
Not required.
Is licensure required?
No.
What do I have to do to become a pharmacy technician in Pennsylvania?
Simply be hired as a pharmacy technician.
Is training required?
No, not required, but generally a supervising pharmacist will oversee initial and ongoing on-the-job training. By law, the supervising pharmacist will create and maintain a written protocol for each pharmacy technician employed in the pharmacy. The protocol specifies each duty the pharmacy technician may perform.
Are there Continuing Education (CE) requirements?
No. If you do become nationally certified, however, maintaining your certification requires CE (20 units of continuing education every 2 years).
How often is renewal required?
Not required.
What should I do if I change jobs or change my home address?
Since pharmacy technicians aren’t regulated in the state, there’s no need to inform the pharmacy board about a change of address or jobs.
Other good info to know about Pennsylvania pharmacy technician requirements
- Pennsylvania provides little guidance for those wanting to become pharmacy technicians, therefore, it might be wise to join the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, the state professional association for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. You will find technician certification and resource information here. This association actually provides a wealth of information (comparatively speaking) for the technician, including continuing education (CE) here. For job seekers, membership in this association–and physically attending any meetings–would be a smart way to network and find a job.
- A technician may only perform pharmacy functions that do not require professional judgment.
- The supervising pharmacist (or pharmacist in charge) is responsible for all actions of the pharmacy technician. The pharmacist must provide “direct, immediate, and personal supervision to..pharmacy technicians.” Whatever tasks the pharmacist delegates to the technician, that pharmacist is “responsible for verifying the accuracy of those tasks.”
Essential Contact Info for the Pharmacy Technician in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy
https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Pharmacy/Pages/default.aspx
Mail: PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Telephone: (717) 783-7156
Fax: (717) 787-7769
Professional Association for Pennsylvania Pharmacy Technicians
Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association https://www.papharmacists.com/
Pennsylvania Q & A
Registered Nurse
by Barbara Parsons
(Harrisburg, PA)
I have been an ER nurse for 40 years, and I am going to retire this year in June. I have extensive pharmacology knowledge and am going to take the pharmacy technician exam to become certified so hopefully I can get a full-time/part-time job because I am not ready to fully retire but this is one area that I know I would do well in. I also have extensive experience with customer service. Wish me luck!
Response from PharmacyTechPros.com: Congratulations on your upcoming retirement from nursing, Barbara! It sounds like you have the perfect background to become a pharm tech. Your prior experience in healthcare should help when applying for a job, as well. We wish you all the best, Barbara!
Ratio of RPh to Technicians
What is the ratio of pharmacists to technicians in Pennsylvania?
Response from PharmacyTechPros.com: According to the Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy on April 4, 2022, there is no ratio requirement.
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