Best Pharmacy Technician Schools in Massachusetts
A pharmacy technician works closely with a licensed pharmacist to dispense prescription medication to patients. These individuals must have strong attention to detail, administrative skills, and people skills. They regularly interact with the public and the coworkers within pharmacies or hospitals. There are Massachusetts pharmacy technician schools for students interested in obtaining their education within this state
Registration and licensure of technicians is required in the state of Massachusetts but before this can take place certification or training must first take place.
To simplify the process there are two main routes you can take to becoming a pharmacy technician in MA. They are:
Option 1: Secure employment as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee and work for 500-1000 hours in this capacity AND pass the PTCB certification exam (GED is required for this) before you apply for registration with the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy.
Option 2: Complete a Board approved training program offered in select vocational schools and/or community colleges in Massachusetts AND pass the PTCB certification exam before you apply for registration with the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy.
Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician Schools
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, 41 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116. Phone: 617-588-1368
Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040. Phone: 413-538-7000
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science, 179 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115. Phone: 617-732-2800
Licensure/Registration and Certification Requirements
Licensure is required and applications are made with the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy. Certification is also required and the two recognized certification exams are PTCB or ExCPT. To learn more about each visit our resource page.
What does a Pharmacy Technician make in Massachusetts?
The *average Massachusetts pharmacy technician salary in 2016 is $16.25 per hour or $33,810 per annum. An entry level pharmacy tech in MA earns an average of $11.24 per hour whilst an experienced and/or certified pharmacy technician earns between $15.30 to $20.17 per hour depending on the years of experience and work setting.
A person who enjoys science, is detail oriented, and likes working with the public should consider attending school for pharmaceutical technology. There are several Massachusetts pharmacy technician schools that individuals should research and which offer different levels of education. Attending a Board-approved program will provide a student with the knowledge base and leg up to land the best job upon graduation.
*Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment & Wages database.