Best Pharmacy Technician Schools in Rhode Island
There are 1,800 active pharmacy technicians working in Rhode Island today, and with an outlook of "faster than average" growth, entering this realm has never been easy given the flexibility and availability of pharmacy technician programs.
Becoming a pharmacy technician in state of Rhode Island does not take years but in fact can be achieved in less than one year. Your options are:
- Receiving on-the-job training OR/
- Attending a pharmacy technology training program (combines classroom instruction with practical lab work and a clinical externship) from regionally accredited schools/colleges/universities.
Financial aid can be provided for in some colleges. This will also equip you with the knowledge to sit and pass the PTCB national certification exam. Upon completion of a pharmacy technician training program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in retail, hospital, mail order and nursing home pharmacies and pharmacies within medical and doctor's offices and even pharmaceutical sales.
Rhode Island pharmacy technician license requirements
Registration/Licensure is required for pharmacy technicians to work anywhere in the State of Rhode Island.
To qualify for registration as a Pharmacy Tech I grade (trainee) you need to be at least 18 years of age or older, a high school graduate or the equivalent plus be enrolled in a Board-approved pharmacy technology training program - this is generally provided as on-the-job-training by the pharmacist in charge.
To qualify for registration as a Pharmacy Tech II grade you need to be at least 18 years of age or older, a high school graduate or the equivalent AND have completed a Board-approved pharmacy technology training program through either a ASHP Training Program, US Military or Public Health Service, a Regionally accredited College, University or Secondary Educational Program or have PTCB or EXCPT Certification Examination.
Application for a RI pharmacy technician license also requires a payment fee of $40. Please note that licensure as a pharmacy tech is not required if you are currently licensed as a pharmacy intern. Registration details are found at the State of Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy website.
Rhode Island pharmacy technician certification requirements
Certification is required in the state of Rhode Island. Both ICPT and PTCB certifications are accepted. Learn more about the difference between those certification in this article. There are 1,059 actively certified technicians through PTCB that reside in Rhode Island. Being certified also means you can work in other states where certification is mandatory.
What does a pharmacy technician make in Rhode Island
The *average Rhode Island pharmacy technician salary for 2018 is $17.62 per hour or $37,410 a year.
An entry level pharmacy technician in RI earns an average of $11.38 per hour whilst an experienced and/or certified pharmacy tech can earn upwards of $19.23 per hour depending on amount of years of experience and work setting.
*Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment & Wages database.