Best Pharmacy Technician Schools in Ohio
Ohio, the Buckeye State, is home to 16,470 pharmacy technicians of which 12,106 are certified technicians through PTCB. In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry in Ohio has grown rapidly, making it an excellent state in which to enter the pharmacy technician field.
Prospective students in Ohio have a access to a wide number of training facilities from which to choose, many of which are accredited and that offer everything from pharmacy technician certificates to associate’s degrees.
If you are ready to become a pharmacy technician in Ohio, there are many scholarships and other financial aid opportunities (Ohio Student Choice Grant, Ohio College Opportunity Grant) that can help you cover the costs.
Indeed, there are several training programs from which to choose from:
- Certificate of Achievement (typically less than a year) OR/
- Diploma programs (typically one year) OR/
- Associate degree program (typically two years long).
Upon completion of an accredited pharmacy technician training program students are prepared for entry-level employment in retail and hospital pharmacies and pharmacies within medical and doctor's offices, insurance companies and mail order services. In addition students are also prepared to sit either of the two national certifying exams: PTCB or ExCPT.
Classes typically cover:
- Pharmacy terminology
- Basic Drug Information
- Basic Math Calculations
- Drug record keeping requirements
- Patient confidentiality
Ohio Pharmacy Technician Schools List
American National University
1837 Woodman Center Dr Kettering, OH 45420
540.986.1800
Cleveland Clinic Center for Health Sciences Education
9500 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44195
216.444.5678 option 4
Cleveland Job Corps Center
13421 Coit Rd Cleveland, OH 44110-22695
800 733-5627
Columbus State Community College
50 East Spring St., Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 287-5353
Cuyahoga Community College
4250 Richmond Road
Highland Hills, OH 44122-6195
Phone: (216) 987-2381
Pickaway Ross Career and Technology Center
1410 Industrial Drive, Chillicothe OH 45601
(740) 642-1440
Ross Education, LLC - Niles Campus 207
5555 Youngstown-Warren Road
Niles, OH 44446
Phone: (330) 505-1436
Ross Center
4490 Brandt Pike, Dayton, OH 45424
(937) 235-0510
Warren County Career Center
3525 North State Route 48 Lebanon, OH 45036
513-932-5677
Cincinnati State Workforce Development Center
10100 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH. 45241
(513) 569-1643
Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Sciences
375 Dixmyth Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
513-862-2743
Polaris Career Center [Online]
7285 Old Oak Blvd Middleburg Hts, OH 44130
855.520.6806
Sinclair Community College
444 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
800-315-3000
How much does a Pharmacy Technician make in Ohio?
- The *average Ohio pharmacy technician salary is $30,200 per annum/ $14.52 per hour
- 10% of techs earn $21,650 per annum/ $10.41 per hour or less.
- 10% of techs earn $43,020 per annum/ $20.68 per hour or more.
Ohio Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements
Certification is required. The state of Ohio recognizes certification through either ExCPT provided by the National Healthcare Association or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) provided by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
We recommend to read our in-depth article on PTSB vs. ExCPT to better understand the difference between these two exams.
A tech registering with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy as CPhT must have completed an accredited training program through the armed forces, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, or an approved board of pharmacy public high school program or employer-based training program prior to registration.
Ohio Pharmacy Technician Requirements
The Ohio state government does strictly regulate pharmacy technicians. There are comparatively stringent requirements to meet if you are to work as a pharmacy technician in Ohio.
Anyone performing the duties of a pharmacy technician (including a trainee) in a pharmacy in Ohio must have an active registration with the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy prior to performing such duties.
There are three types of technician registration to choose from: certified technician, registered technician and technician trainee.
Here is a list of the minimum conditions to meet for registration as a pharmacy technician trainee:
- You must be at least 18
- You must possess a HS Diploma, GED, or an equivalent
- Submit to a criminal background check
Trainees can choose to complete an employer based training program or a non-employer based training program. The latter is done by attending a school-based pharmacy technician training program approved by the ASHP/ACPE.
For non-employer based training, students must meet one of the following criteria to become registered or certified:
- Completed training program accredited by the ASHP/ACPE; or
- Completed training program approved by the State Board of Pharmacy; or
- Ohio public high school approved pharmacy technician training programs
- Approved high schools pharmacy technician training programs
- Completed pharmacy technician training conducted by the Armed Forces, Indian Health Service, or the Veterans Administration.
Individuals registered as trainees receive a one year registration. To go on and become a registered or certified pharmacy technician, trainees must complete an approved training program.
Continuing education will be required for registered pharmacy technicians to maintain registration. All registered technicians need to complete 10 contact hours (1.0 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education during the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the technician’s registration.
*Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment & Wages database.
Other recommended sources:
http://www.nabp.net/programs/cpe-monitor/cpe-monitor-service/technicians
http://www.ptcb.org/
http://www.pharmacytechnician.org/institute/
http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/
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