Pharmacy Technician Programs in Buffalo, NY
Planning to go to a pharmacy technician school in Buffalo, NY? If so, there has been an increase in the demand for pharmacy technicians.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 420,400 individuals employed in the profession. Between 2018 and 2028, it is projected that an additional 38,300 jobs will be added to the industry, a growth of between 7 percent and 10 percent; a faster rate than the average occupation.
In New York, the projected growth rate for this occupation is 16 percent between the years 2016 and 2026.
Requirements to Be a Pharmacy Technician in Buffalo, NY
It used to be that pharmacy technicians received on-the-job training, but today, the majority of employers will only hire formally trained and certified pharmacy technicians.
Because the State of New York does not regulate the profession and a certification is not required, there may be some pharmacies that will hire pharmacy techs that are not certified; but, the majority of employers recognize the benefit of a certification and will either require or give preference to certified professionals.
As such, if you are seeking a career as a pharmacy technician, it is in your best interest to receive a certification from an accredited training program, such as the American Society of Healthy-System Pharmacists (ASHP), as these programs fulfill the requirements that are set forth by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
Pharmacy technicians must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or the equivalent. These professionals will also need to pass a criminal background check.
Salary and Job Outlook in Buffalo, NY
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, on average, pharmacy technicians in the United States earn $33,950, and in the State of New York, the average salary is $33,550, a difference of $400.
On the higher end of the pay scale, 10 percent of employees in this profession earn $49,130 or more per year nationally, while in New York, 10 percent of pharmacy technicians earn $50,530 or more per year.
On the low end of the pay scale, 10 percent of pharmacy techs earn $24,860 or less in the United States, while in New York, 10 percent of employees earn a yearly salary of $24,860 or less. In the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls metro area, pharmacy technicians earn $31,900 per year, on average, while 10 percent earn $44,580 or more and another 10 percent earn $24,330 or less per year.
Avg. Wages in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls Metro Area
Avg. Wages in New York
Avg. Wages in the United States
In May 2019, there were 1,290 pharmacy technicians employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls metro area while the state of New York employed 20,360 pharmacy techs overall.
According to the New York State Department of Labor, it is projected that there will be 1,950 jobs by 2026 in Western NY.
Overall the pharmacy technician occupation is expected to grow rapidly in the next several year, or will have large number of job openings available.
List of the Top Pharmacy Technician Schools in Buffalo, NY
If you are interested in perusing a career as a pharmacy technician in Buffalo in the Erie county, there are three schools in the area that provide training programs for this field.
Below, you will find an overview of each of these schools, including what prerequisite requirements you will need to attend, descriptions of what the coursework entails, contact information, and other relative information.
77 Goodell Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 | 
716 851 1800
Erie community college is a SUNY (State University of New York) school. This highly regarded school of higher education provides an 11-week Pharmacy Technician training program in both the spring and fall semesters.
Retired, licensed pharmacists, in conjunction with a team of professors from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences professors, instruct the courses in this program.
While enrolled in the program, students will complete a total of 80 internship hours at pharmacies and hospitals throughout the city. Once the program is completed, students will have the opportunity to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam.
Candidates for this program must be at least 18 years of age and meet the following requirements:
- Complete a timed TABE test, with a four-part math and English skills assessment and receive at least an 80 percent on the test
- Have a high school diploma or the equivalent (a GED, for example)
- Have a valid social security number
- A current physical exam
- A criminal background check
1221 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209 | 716 259 1680
The Pharmacy Technician – Entry Level Program at The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) is designed for adults who are at least 21 years of age to gain practical experience that’s required to obtain employment as a pharmacy technician.
There is no charge for the program, as BCAT awards all students selected for the workforce development programs with scholarships that will cover the cost of tuition and books. The number of students who are accepted to the program for each session is limited. The program includes 14 weeks of classroom instruction and once completed, students will move on to complete 130 internship hours at one of the school’s clinical partner sites.
After completing classroom instruction and internship hours, students will be able to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) national certification exam. Students who attend the program will learn vital skills and information related to the pharmacy technician occupation, such as medical terminology, pharmacology, pharmacy and pharmacy practice, professional development, and community pharmacy software.
465 Main Street, Suite 400, Buffalo, NY 14203| 716 884 9120
The Pharmacy Technician certificate program offered at Bryant and Stratton College provides students with the foundation knowledge and experience that is necessary when they encounter real-world pharmacy situations.
The areas this program focuses on proper dosage calculations, drug classifications, the definition of drugs, and proper medical terminology. inventory control, and the appropriate prescription dispensing. Students will need to complete 160 hours of study, which are divided into two segments that are 80 hours each. The first segment focuses on classroom lecture and lab hours, and the second segment involves clinical externship.
Students of this program must complete the 80 hours of classroom and lab instruction, have a background check, and undergo a drug screening, among other requirements. Tuition for the pharmacy technician training program does not cover the fee for the PTCB pharmacy technician certification exam.
Prerequisite requirements for the program include a high school diploma or the equivalent, a current physical, a criminal background check, among other requirements.
Also Related:
References:
National Center for O*NET Development
New York State Department of Labor, Division of Research & Statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacy Technicians
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, Pharmacy Technicians https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm