Pharmacy Technician Schools in Alexandria, LA
Pharmacy technicians play a key role within a pharmacy team, one that is becoming increasingly complex, both in a retail and clinical setting. They assist their supervising pharmacist in all aspects of the medication dispensing process, and they are frequently the customer's first point of contact.
In Louisiana, a pharmacy technician must be certified before they can obtain a license to work. They must also be over the age of 18, hold a high diploma or GED and fingerprints to the Louisiana State Police (LSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for analysis and pass a drug test. While all the latter is a matter for the individual to arrange the certification requirement calls for completion of an approved program at one of the pharmacy technician schools in Alexandria, LA.
Pharmacy Technician Salary: Alexandria vs. LA vs. Nationwide
Before beginning the process of becoming a pharmacy technician, it is only wise to understand more about the profession's job growth and earnings potential.
The average annual wage nationally for a pharmacy technician is $33,950, or around $16.32 an hour. For the state of Louisiana itself it was slightly lower - $15.92 or $33,110. However, for Alexandria, LA the average wage was higher than both those figures at $35,120, or $16.89 per hour.
Salaries vary according to experience and employer of course. Entry level techs averaged $25,300/$12.16 while the highest earners averaged $48,540 per annum/$23.34 per hour.
Location | Median Salary | Salary Ranges |
|---|---|---|
Alexandria, LA | $35,120 | $25,300 - $48,540 |
Louisiana | $33,110 | $25,130 - $45,880 |
United Sates | $33,950 | $24,120 - $49,130 |
Job Outlook
Excellent job growth for pharmacy technicians in Louisiana was already projected by the BLS - around 7.5% between 2016 and 2026 - but that figure may be much higher now given the increased role pharmacies - especially retail pharmacies - are taking in both general basic healthcare and COVID-19 pandemic management. In Louisiana especially pharmacies are taking the lead in vaccine administration for their communities, and certified pharmacy technicians play a significant role in that effort.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Alexandria, LA
LSU at Alexandria
8100 US-71 Alexandria, LA 71302 
(318) 473-6417
The Alexandria campus of the storied Louisiana State University - better known as LSU - offers qualified, academically advanced students the chance to complete a Certificate in Pharmacy Technology that is designed to offer them a comprehensive introduction to the profession while helping ensure they pass the PTCE certification exam. The program includes both classroom and lab training along with a mandatory externship with a local employer. To be admitted to the program students will have to meet LSU's exacting standards and those of the state Board of Pharmacy. If admitted students usually graduate within 18 months of fulltime, campus-based study. The program is American Society of Health-System Pharmacists accredited and is an approved program of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and the PTCB. The costs involved vary according to a student's personal circumstances, academic performance, and eligibility for student aid. The school calculates these as a part of the admissions process and most students make use of federal and state financial aid to pay for their education.
Unitech Training Academy
3253 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy Lafayette, LA 70506 337-451-3004
Unitech Training Academy is a private vocational school offering a wide variety of career-based training. For those interested in becoming a pharmacy technician they offer a nine-month Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program designed to provide students with the knowledge needed to pass the PTCB. The program is offered as a traditional on-campus course that meets on a full-time basis. Students receive a broad overview of their future profession and hands-on training in the school lab. The cost of the program is $15,500.00 for LA residents. Traditional federal financial aid is available to those who qualify, as are a limited number of state workforce grants. More than 90% of students finance their education in this way but those who do not qualify may still be able to obtain a private student loan from a lender like Sallie Mae.
Walgreens Pharmacy Tech Apprenticeship
4444 Jackson St., Alexandria, LA 71303 (318) 448-9340
Walgreens is the second-largest pharmacy chain in the United States, and it, like CVS, offers a limited technical apprenticeship to candidates who are deemed suitable for full-time employment.
There are a limited number of these available in Alexandria, LA, and applicants must meet the requirements to take the PTCE and register with the state in addition to Walgreens employment requirements.Those who are accepted as pharmacy tech apprentices receive free on-the-job training as well as formal online education. If they pass the PTCE, they will be offered full-time employment as a pharmacy technician at a local store.
Resources:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data and 2019-2029 employment projections. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
2. Louisiana Board of Pharmacy: http://www.pharmacy.la.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=426
Other Louisiana metro areas' schools offering pharmacy tech programs:
Pharmacy technician programs in New Orleans, LA