Top Pharmacy Technician Programs in Trenton, NJ: Get The Best PT Schooling
Pharmacy technicians in Trenton, NJ play a crucial role in the healthcare system.
They are frequently a patient’s first point of contact at their local pharmacy, and their assistance and knowledge are vital as assistants to pharmacists in both retail and clinical settings, as evidenced by the COVID-19 epidemic.
You must register with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy to work as a pharmacy technician in Trenton, or anyplace else in the state. Completing a state-approved education program and earning certification through either the PTCE or the ExCPT test are two of the requirements.
This almost mandates enrolling in one of Trenton’s pharmacy technician programs.
Pharmacy Technician Salaries and Employment Trends in Trenton
When it comes to their chosen professional path, a certified pharmacy technician has many alternatives.
In addition to working in a retail pharmacy, they can work in a hospital, a long-term care facility, a pharmacy affiliated to an urgent care center, one of the increasing number of mail order pharmacies, or even an alternative pharmacy like a medical marijuana dispensary in and around Trenton.
This indicates that the job prospects for pharmacy technicians in New Jersey are great, as are the typical salaries paid to them.
Just how do the average salaries paid to Trenton pharmacy technicians stack up?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for 2022 the average salary for a pharmacy technician on a national level was $18.17 per hour ($37,790 per year). On a state level, for New Jersey in the same time period, the average annual salary was $37,590 or around $18.07 per hour.
For Trenton specifically, the numbers were similar: $36,260/$17.43.
Job growth specifically for Trenton is hard to predict, especially as certified pharmacy techs often also choose to seek employment in nearby New York instead; however, BLS figures for New Jersey in general suggested (in 2019) growth of 7% between 2018 and 2028, but that figure may now increase as a result of the expanded role in general healthcare pharmacies are playing post-pandemic.
How Much Are Pharmacy Technician Programs in Trenton?
For the institutions listed below, pharmacy technician program tuition fees range from $1,440 to $21,000.
Pharmacy Technician New Jersey State Requirements
As new pharmacy technicians in Trenton consider working in their home state, New York, or possibly even Pennsylvania, they will be concerned about the regulatory requirements in each state.
These are the current requirement breakdowns for each:
New Jersey
The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacy technicians to register with them. They must be over 18, have a high school diploma or GED, be of ‘good moral character,’ have completed a Board approved pharmacy technician education program, and hold a PTCB or NHA certification to do so.
New York
The NY Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacy technicians to be licensed. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, a PTCB or NHA certification, and no felony convictions on their record.
Pennsylvania
Although the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association encourages businesses to recruit applicants with PTCB credentials, the state does not regulate pharmacy technician employment.
Certification for pharmacy technicians is necessary or strongly encouraged in the three states. This is where accredited pharmacy technician schools in New Jersey come in.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Trenton, NJ
Here is a summary of PTCB-approved programs in the Trenton area that residents can examine while deciding on a course of study and the right school for them.
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education
Campus Address: 4500 New Brunswick Ave
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: (908) 222-0002
The American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education, located just outside of Trenton in Piscataway, NJ, is a private vocational school that offers certificate programs in a variety of healthcare professions, including pharmacy technology.
The AIMS Pharmacy Technician Training Certificate, or PTC, is a nine-month curriculum designed to offer a comprehensive overview of the skills required to work as a pharmacy technician and pass either the PTCE or ExCPT certification exam.
The course is available full-time, and while all practical work is completed in the college’s labs, some work can be done online. A 250-hour clinical internship is also required of students. The school will arrange for this, which must be completed before graduation.
The program’s cost varies depending on a student’s specific circumstances and resources. Still, the school offers a net pricing calculator here to give you a clearer idea of those costs.
Traditional federal and state financial aid and a small number of state workforce awards are available. Those not eligible for federal student loans can explore a private student loan from a lender like Sallie Mae.
Students must be over 18, have a high school diploma or GED, and pass both criminal background and drug tests to be admitted to the program. They must also pass basic skills exams administered by the school and meet the required vaccination standards.
Pennco Tech
Campus Address: 99 Erial Rd
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Phone: (856) 232-0310
Pennco Tech is a private vocational college in Blackwood, NJ that offers students of all ages access to a variety of career degrees, including a Pharmacy Technician Diploma.
This campus-based program gives students a general overview of the field and its duties, focusing on lab work and ethics instruction. Day and evening classes are available, and the program can be completed in under a year.
Students must be over 18 and have a high school diploma or GED to be admitted to the program. They must pass criminal background and drug checks before completing their required internship with a local employer. They will also be required to meet all current vaccination requirements.
The program’s cost varies depending on the student’s age, personal circumstances, and state grant eligibility. However, in 2020, those costs were estimated to be over $21,000, including books and lab supplies. Most students rely on traditional federal financial aid to pay for their education.
Mercer Community College
Address:1200 Old Trenton Rd,
West Windsor Township, NJ 08550
Phone: (609) 586-4800
Mercer County Community College, located in West Windsor, NJ, just outside Trenton, offers a hybrid online/campus-based non-credit certificate program that prepares students to take the PTCE exam and begin working as a pharmacy technician in a retail setting.
The lab-based element of the course is completed on campus, with parts of the course completed online via recordings and live-streaming sessions. Students can also participate in a 30-hour internship with a local firm to obtain more “real-world” experience.
The curriculum takes fewer than six months to complete and it’s one of the most affordable pharmacy technician programs for New Jersey residents, which includes the PTCE test price but excludes books and materials. This program is not eligible for traditional financial aid, but a flexible school-administered payment plan is available to assist in spreading the expense of tuition over the course of the program.
To be admitted to the program, students must be over the age of 18 and hold a high school diploma or GED, and meet all other New Jersey licensing requirements and current vaccination requirements.
Brookdale Community College
Address: 765 Newman Springs Rd,
Lincroft, NJ 07738
Phone: (732) 224-2345
Brookdale Community College, in Lincroft, New Jersey, is a typical community college that provides local residents with a wide selection of affordable campus-based certificate and associate degree programs.
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the school year, they offer a 96-hour Pharmacy Technician Certification program. Although certain classes can be taken online, lab-based courses must be completed on campus.
The course covers everything you must know to pass the PTCE and a full overview of a pharmacy technician’s responsibilities in 2021. Students must be over 18 and have a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Another affordable option for New Jersey residents is the course cost, including the PTCE exam cost. However, this amount excludes the cost of books and supplies, which, according to the school, adds roughly an additional $250 to a student’s final costs.
This program does not qualify for traditional financial aid, but students can spread the cost over time by using the school’s interest-free payment plan, as long as their amount is paid in full by graduation.