In a pharmacy, technicians perform foundational tasks such as transcribing, processing, filling, and dispensing medication orders, managing inventory, and assisting pharmacists with patient service. These responsibilities are crucial to supporting high-quality operations but do not require formal certification.

A Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) has completed additional requirements, including passing a national certification exam administered by PTCB or another certifying body. This certification reflects a higher level of expertise and a deeper understanding of pharmaceutical practices, allowing CPhTs to take on more complex tasks such as medication therapy management, compounding, and administrative functions.

REOC’s Certified Pharmacy Technician Program is a 500-contact-hour comprehensive, nationally accredited program that combines classroom study and clinical experience. This program encompasses training and education of direct patient and pharmacist support in pharmacy environments, including, but not limited to, Community, Hospital, Mail-Order, Long-Term & Managed Care.

Potential students be aware that certain factors may affect your eligibility for externships, certification, and future employment as a Pharmacy Technician.

Pharmacy externship sites, employers, and State Boards of Pharmacy have specific requirements:    

• Illicit drug use, criminal background checks and immunization status may prevent future employment as a pharmacy technician.

• Externship sites, employers, and State Boards of Pharmacy have regulations regarding drug use, criminal background and immunization status.

These agencies may deny placement, licensure, or employment if an individual does not meet their standards. Being admitted to and completing the program does not guarantee externship placement, certification, or employment if eligibility requirements are not met. Completion of the program DOES NOT GUARANTEE externship placement, certification, or employment if such barriers exist.

Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to apply to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

To qualify to take the PTCE, an individual must either:

• Complete a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program, or
• Complete 500 hours of work experience as a pharmacy technician.

To maintain national certification, certified technicians must complete at least 20 hours of NABP-approved continuing education within two years. At least one hour must be a Patient Safety CE, and at least one hour must be a Pharmacy Law CE. Once these have been completed, technicians will apply for recertification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) website 30 days before their certification expiration.

To become a NYS Registered Pharmacy Technician, an individual must pass the PTCE and submit an RPhT application and associated fees to the New York State Education Department (NYSED). To maintain this registration, technicians must remain certified and submit a registration renewal application and associated fees to NYSED every three years.

REOC Pharmacy Technician Training Program Receives ASHP/ACPE Accreditation Status

ASHP/ACPE Accreditation
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) is the only nationally-recognized, non-governmental, non-profit pharmacy association that accredits pharmacy residencies and pharmacy technician training programs in the United States. The accreditation ensures standardization in training and a peer review process to enhance the pharmacy technician’s role in patient safety.

In a pharmacy, technicians perform foundational tasks such as transcribing, processing, filling, and dispensing medication orders, managing inventory, and assisting pharmacists with patient service. These responsibilities are crucial to supporting high-quality operations but do not require formal certification.

A Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) has completed additional requirements, including passing a national certification exam administered by PTCB or another certifying body. This certification reflects a higher level of expertise and a deeper understanding of pharmaceutical practices, allowing CPhTs to take on more complex tasks such as medication therapy management, compounding, and administrative functions.

Summary
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm

Job Outlook
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm#tab-6

Faculty/Staff

Administration

Program Outcome Data

2024-2025:

• Enrolled: 19
• Completed:11
• Graduation Rate: 58%
• Certifications: 1
• Certification Rate: 13%

2023-2024

• Enrolled: 9
• Completed: 3
• Graduation Rate: 33%
• Certifications: 1
• Certification Rate: 33%

2022-2023

• Enrolled: 6
• Completed: 3
• Graduation Rate: 50%
• Certifications: 2

Certification Rate: 67%