Pharmacy Technician Schools in Lawton, OK
Whether in a retail or clinical setting, pharmacy technicians have long been an integral part of a pharmacy team. Certified pharmacy technicians are in higher demand than ever before, and pharmacies have taken a key role in both basic healthcare and Covid-19 pandemic management.
This is as true in Lawton as elsewhere. Pharmacy technician schools provide the first step toward a well-paying and exciting career for area residents, as while there is no state certification requirement to become a pharmacy technician, it is preferred by the majority of employers.
The last part of that sentence is important, as Oklahoma does require pharmacy technicians to hold a permit, issued by the Oklahoma Board of Pharmacy, to work alone. This permit can only be obtained by completing on the job training with a licensed pharmacist in the state. In addition, the Oklahoma Pharmacy states that
"Pharmacy technician applicants must have completed a high school diploma or G.E.D., be of good moral character and be non-impaired."
So, persuading an employer that you are the candidate worth training is the earliest career goal for any tech, something certification may help with greatly.
Pharmacy Technician Salary and Job Outlook in Lawton
Because attending a program will entail a significant financial and time investment on the part of the student, it is important to take into account what that investment will yield in terms of salary and potential job opportunities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national; average wage for a pharmacy technician is $33,950 per annum, or $16.32 per hour. The state average for Oklahoma in that same period was, the BLS says, $31,230 annually or $15.01 per hour. The statistics for Lawton specifically are remarkably similar: $31,200 or $15.00 per hour.
In terms of growth the outlook is good. A 10% growth in the number of jobs available for pharmacy technicians in Oklahoma was expected between 2016 and 2026 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and that figure is likely higher now, as pharmacies take a significant role in vaccine initiatives and general wellness care, especially in a retail pharmacy setting.
Pharmacy Technician Programs in Lawton, OK
At this time there is only one educational institution approved by the PTCB - the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, who administer the PTCE exam, to provide pharmacy technician education:
Great Plains Technology Center
Campus: 4500 SW. Lee Blvd. Lawton, Oklahoma 73505 Tel: (580) 355-6371
Great Plains Technology Center, a vocational school that maintains campuses in Lawton, OK and Frederick, OK offers an affordable, short term pharmacy technician course that will help prepare students both to take the PTCE exam and begin an on-the-job training program with an employer to earn their Oklahoma Pharmacy Technician permit. The classes are held on campus on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and the program takes six months of study to complete. It is open to anyone over the age of 18 with a high school diploma or GED. Students receive a broad overview of the pharmacy technician career in general and the knowledge needed to pass the PTCE. The cost of the course is set $429. In addition, students must purchase an electronic textbook access code at an additional cost of $89. Financial aid is not available to cover these costs, but some students may qualify for a local workforce grant to offset some of it.