Pharmacy Technician Programs in Honolulu, Hawaii
Pharmacy technicians typically assist the pharmacist in meeting the needs of patients. They reduce the workload by handling less technical pharmaceutical functions, like filling prescriptions, handling medication, and so on.
You'll need to know the following information if you are going to be pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician in Hawaii. Learn about regulation, certification and licensure requirements as well as, school programs, salary data and job outlook for prospective pharmacy technicians in Honolulu, HI.
Pharmacy Technician Requirements in Hawaii
Pharmacy technicians are not regulated in Hawaii. You don't have to register with the Board to work as a pharmacy technician in Hawaii, unlike with other states. And there are no explicitly stated regulations for pharmacy technicians which is responsible for licensure.
Note that the only approved certification for pharmacy technicians in Hawaii is the PTCB. Although certification is not mandatory, it is recommended to have the PTCB certification. Employers prefer, and many require, their pharmacy technicians be PTCB CPhTs.
As a CPhT you will have better job prospects, career growth and a higher pay. It is also nationally recognized qualification.
To get certified with the PTCB you need to complete a training program or have equivalent work experience (min. 500 hours). Only training programs that are ASHP/ACPE and/or ABHES-accredited, and other programs that submit an attestation form for PTCB recognition, are accepted as PTCB-recognized for the CPhT Program.
Pharmacy Technician Jobs Hawaii Outlook
The job outlook for pharmacy technicians in Hawaii is positive. In May 2019, the U.S Bureau for Labor Statistics reported that pharmacy technician job was growing at 4% annually, making it one among jobs with a positive outlook in the United States. Of the 422,300 pharmacy technicians in America, about 1790 were employed in Hawaii as of May last year. 1300 of the pharmacy technicians in Hawaii were in Urban Honolulu, which has a slightly higher hourly wage for the profession.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Hawaii?
Pharmacy technicians in Urban Honolulu make an average hourly wage of $20.61 and a $41,900 average income annually. 10% of the workers in Urban Honolulu earn $30,340 or less, while another 10% make as much as $58,470 or more yearly.
In Hawaii, the average hourly wage for pharmacy technicians is $20.14 – only slightly below that of Urban Honolulu, and the average annual wage stands at $40,970. 10% of pharmacy technicians in Hawaii earn a yearly $30,010 or less while another 10% earn $56,920 or more.
Finally, in the United States, pharmacy technicians earn on average $16.32 per hour and $33,950 in yearly income. 10% of these workers earn $24,120 or less, and another 10% earn a minimum of $49,130 yearly.
It is clear from the stats that pharmacy technicians in Hawaii make much more than their colleagues in other parts of the country and also earn above the national average. There isn’t much difference between what pharmacy technicians earn in different cities across Hawaii, making it one of the best locations for a pharmacy technician to work in America.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Honolulu, HI
There are several schools in Hawaii that offer accredited pharmacy technician training program to enable you to apply for entry-level pharmacy technologist jobs in Honolulu as well as pass the PTCB certfication exam.
A: 4303 Diamond Head Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 | T: 808 734 9000
The pharmacy technician program at Kapi’olani Community College is a 305-hour non-credit program that prepares students to work in a wide range of pharmaceutical settings and also take any certification examination successfully. There's an online class portion that lasts four months. Following the online course is an in-person pharmacy externship and consists of these two parts:
Part 1: Pharmacy Technician Foundations—145 hours
Part 2: Pharmacy Technician Applications—160 hours
The first part entails foundation courses with online lecture, the second part includes lab practice, lecture, test preparation, and an externship at an approved pharmacy site.
Students can choose the time of day during which to complete an externship and also choose which pharmacy to work in. For a student to qualify for the externship, they need a score of at least 70% on exams and other requirements for attaining competency prior to working as a pharmacy technician. Once a student completes both part 1 and 2, they'll earn the certificate of competence issued by Kapiʻolani Community College.
There are admission requirements for this program, which includes English and Math as prerequisites. Students who did not complete college-level math and English courses can take the ACCUPLACER placement test offered at the school’s testing center.
Tuition is is $2265. Admission is based on a first qualified, first accepted bases. Because this program gets more applications than it can enroll, students should apply early enough.
The program is non-eligible for Federal loans. But students can consider alternative and private loans to finance their education. Upon completion, students will also be prepared to sit the PTCB certification exam.
A: 96-045 Ala ‘Ike, Rm CE-101, Pearl City, HI 96782 | T: 808 455 0477
The pharmacy technician training program by Leeward Community College is meant to prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to work in any pharmaceutical setting, and also to sit for any pharmacy certification exam with confidence. Employers will recognize quickly that the student has what it takes to deliver the service efficiently.
Students will acquire knowledge of drugs and other aspects of pharmacy that'll guarantee them career in healthcare for life. At the end of this program, students are prepared to be successful in any pharmacy technician certification exam nationwide and be fully equipped to help pharmacists serve patients better across different pharmaceutical settings.
Entry requirements into the program include:
- High school diploma or GED,
- basic computer and typing skills (35+ wpm),
- pass the math assessment test with 9th grade or higher, and
- a criminal abstract no older than 30 days
The program costs $1,800 and lasts 9 weeks. Course fees include textbooks, practice tests, the PTCE exam.
A: 1221 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814 | T: 808 237 5140
Hawaii Medical College provides one of the few pharmacy technician programs in the state.
The 56-credit hour Pharmacy Technician Diploma Program can be completed within 60 weeks and is designed to provide all the skills and knowledge a student needs to become successful in the pharmacy technician trade. Students are taught and guided by knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the healthcare sector.
Students will also need to complete a 225-hour clinical rotation externship as part of the program.
The course has total instruction clock hours of 855 made up of lecture hours, lab hours and hours spent in an externship. There are a total of 19 courses that make up the program which covers:
- Medical insurance billing
- Pharmacy Calculations
- Pharmacology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Medical Terminology
- Pharmacy Certification Exam Preparation and many more.
Tuition is $16,216 and includes textbooks and tech fees. The college participates in the Federal Student Aid program. Dress code for pharmacy technician students while attending the program is black uniform scrubs, HMC logo and ID badge.
Upon completion of the program students will take the certified pharmacy technician exam administered by the PTCB.
Salary and job outlook figures courtesy of US Department of Labor.