Pharmacy Technician Programs in Jacksonville, FL
The medical profession continues to enjoy good growth in Florida, and that is as true in Jacksonville, FL as in many other Sunshine State cities. Whenever the medical profession grows in general, so does the need for pharmacies, and the staff to run them.
Pharmacy technicians are a pharmacy's 'first line'.
They greet customers, bill their insurance companies, help measure and dispense medications and generally help put customers at ease.
[ Also read: A Look At a Pharmacy Technician's Job Description ]
It's a sometime challenging, but rewarding and well paid field that more and more people are interested in.
The State of Florida does not require that pharmacy technicians but certified, only registered. However, the majority of employers do prefer to hire certified staff, and so becoming certified is a sensible move for those who want to enter the field, as is participating in a pharmacy technician program in Jacksonville, Florida to obtain the technical knowledge and practical experience needed to do so.
Featured Schools in Jacksonville
Statistics
Jacksonville vs Florida Pharmacy Technicians Employment
According to the Bureau of Labor statistics in 2019 there were 30,080 people registered as pharmacy technicians in the State of Florida. Of them, 2,600 were from the Jacksonville area, and that number is growing.
Jacksonville | Florida |
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2600
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Pharmacy Techs employed in Jacksonville represents 8.6% of all PT's employed in the state of Florida (2018, BLS) | Total Pharmacy Technicians employed in Florida state (2018, BLS) |
Salary for Pharmacy Technicians in Jacksonville
Aside from the exciting challenge of the job, pharmacy technician is also a relatively well paid profession. The average mean annual salary for a Jacksonville pharmacy tech is $32,090. And while brand-new pharmacy techs often start at a wage around $11.39 in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 10th percentile that rises as high as $19.08 in the 90th percentile.
Pharmacy Technician Annual Wages in Jacksonville
(BLS Data May 2018)
$23,700
$27,430
$32,240
$36,810
$39,690
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Jacksonville, FL
101 W State St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, USA | Tel: (904) 997-2538
For those Jacksonville residents interested in obtaining certification as pharmacy tech local educational opportunities are somewhat limited at the moment. However, Florida State University at Jacksonville does offer an excellent Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program that offers everything a Jacksonville resident needs to gain the knowledge and experience needed to become a certified pharmacy technician.
Florida State College Pharmacy Technician Training Program
The Pharmacy Technician Workforce Certificate (W.C.) at Florida State University at Jacksonville is a 1,050 Clock/Contact hours program designed to be completed in about 11 months. Learning is campus based, with a day program offered at the school's Deerwood Center and an evening program geared mainly towards working adults at the North Center in the evening.
Estimated program cost
The total cost of the program in 2019 was approximately $3,066 for in state students, including books and supplies, but not the PTCB exam fee or the Florida professional registration fee, which add around $300 more to that total.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify, including a Federal Pell grant and some state specific workforce training grants.
Admissions requirements
To be admitted to the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program at Florida State University at Jacksonville students must be over the age of 18, hold a high school diploma or GED and be able to pass drug and background checks as well as meet minimum vaccination standards.
- U.S. citizen or legal immigrant
- Complete program application by the published deadline
- CPR Certification
Course content
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program at Florida State University at Jacksonville covers all the technical and practical skills a student needs to take and pass their certification exam and become a working pharmacy technician in a retail, hospital, long term care or other setting. The school boasts excellent lab facilities and, as a student nears gradation and is preparing to take their certification exam they are given access to additional study materials including past papers and one on one revision with instructors.
Accreditation
The program is approved by both the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, who set the PTCB certification exam taken by most students, and by the Florida Board of Pharmacy.
Potential Employers
CVS, Walgreens, hospitals, grocery stores and nursing homes are just a few of the places you could work as a graduate of the Pharmacy Technician Workforce Certificate program after completing the certification exam. Notable employers include:
- CVS Health
- Winn-Dixie Pharmacy
- Omnicare, Inc.
- Baptist Health
- Guardian Pharmacy