How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Pennsylvania

Looking to become a pharmacy technician in Pennsylvania? Following are the important facts you need to know about the requirements for pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania.

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? N/A

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
www.dos.state.pa.us/pharm
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/

Be a proud Pennsylvania pharmacy technician!

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