Pharmacy Technician Programs in Manchester, NH: Selecting The Best PT School!
Whether in a retail setting, a hospital, or a long-term care facility, a pharmacy technician is an important member of the pharmacy team.
A pharmacy technician’s job, especially one who has graduated from an accredited pharmacy technician school in Manchester, NH, is complex, skilled, and sometimes hectic, but it is also very personal and professionally rewarding.
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has progressed even further, with retail pharmacies at the forefront of testing and vaccination, with an increasing number of certified pharmacy technicians actively involved.
Pharmacy Technician Salaries and Job Growth Outlook in Manchester
Before embarking on a new career as a pharmacy technician and investing the time, effort, and money required to attend and graduate from a pharmacy technician training program in Manchester, most people want a good overview of what the job has to offer in terms of salary and future growth prospects.
And this is both understandable and intelligent.
According to 2022 wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary paid to a pharmacy technician in the USA was the national average of $18.17 per hour/$37,790 per annum.
The average salary paid to a pharmacy technician in New Hampshire was $37,300 or $17.93 per hour.
The same statistics showed that the average salaries in Manchester were a little lower – $17.04 per hour/$35,450 per annum, which is still a good wage compared to other professions that call for the same amount of schooling.
Additionally, many certified pharmacy techs cross state lines to work in Massachusetts, where salaries are often higher, but certification is required (which is not the case in NH)
Job growth prospects for New Hampshire pharmacy technicians are excellent. The BLS predicted that between 2016 and 2026, pharmacy technician employment in New Hampshire would grow by around 12%.
However, because the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the role of pharmacies in pandemic management and basic healthcare in general, growth projections are likely to be higher, particularly for certified pharmacy technicians who can participate in vaccination and minute clinic services.
Pharmacy Technician Programs in Manchester, NH
While you must register with the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy to work as a pharmacy technician in the state, certification is not mandated at this time. There are other requirements to be met – including being over the age of 18, holding a high school diploma or GED, the ability to present a criminal record free of drug-related misdemeanors and any felonies, and pass a drug test.
If certification is not required, why consider attending one of the pharmacy technician schools in New Hampshire? There are several good reasons.
First, many employers prefer that their pharmacy techs be certified, especially as their roles expand.
Secondly, certification will usually secure candidates a higher salary, especially as the training programs undertaken prior to taking a certification exam offer the kind of hands-on training and experience employers are looking for. Finally, many New Hampshire-based pharmacy technicians seek work in Massachusetts, where both registration and certification are required.
At this time there are just two schools that offer a PTCB-approved pharmacy technician training program in and around Manchester city. PTCB approval is necessary for those hoping to take their PTCE certification exam. The offerings may increase in the future, but for now, here is a closer look at them both.
Quinsigamond Community College
670 West Boylston Street,
Worcester, MA 01606
Phone: 508- 853- 2300
Quinsigamond Community College is located near Manchester Worcester, Massachusetts. This means that their Pharmacy Technician Certificate program meets the guidelines set by the MA Board of Pharmacy, something that will make it easier for NH based students to obtain MA registration upon graduation, while also meeting New Hampshire requirements as well.
The program is a credit-granting offering that is approved by the PTCB and offers a comprehensive overview of pharmacy technology as a whole. It includes both classroom and lab training and a school arranged externship is required for graduation as well. The program runs for two semesters and all learning is completed on campus on a full time basis. To be admitted, students must meet all the registration requirements set out by the MA Board of Pharmacy and academic standards, especially in English, set by the school.
It should be noted that Manchester, NH residents will be charged an out-of-state tuition rate, higher than that offered to in-state students. Traditional financial aid is available to those who qualify, and it is how more than 90% of enrolled students pay for their education at Quinsigamond.
Manchester Community College
1066 Front Street,
Manchester, NH 03102
Phone: (603)206-8160
Via their Adult Education Center, and in partnership with New Hampshire’s Workforce Development initiative, Manchester Community College offers a non-credit ‘fast track’ Pharmacy Technician Certificate program that prepares students to take their PTCB certification while also offering them hands-on training, both in the school’s labs and via an external placement with local employers.
The PTCB approved program runs for 84 hours and is usually completed in 3 months of on campus evening study. Coursework provides students with an overview of the profession as a whole as well as specialist prep for their certification test. To be admitted, students must meet all the registration requirements for pharmacy technicians as laid out by the NH Board of Pharmacy.
As it is a non-credit course traditional financial aid is not available, but tuition fees are considerably more affordable than at Quinsigamond Community College. Some students may qualify, via the Workforce Development program for a grant that will cover these costs in their entirety.