There are a number of pharmacy technician programs on offer in Idaho and there are plenty of career opportunities for individuals who decide to take the root of becoming pharmacy technicians. Entering the medical industry through this door provides you with a number of excellent opportunities that you may not otherwise have had and you will one day have the opportunity to become a pharmacist.
Overview
In Idaho there are many opportunities for pharmacy technicians, both in terms of training as well as in terms of employment after your training program is complete. In order to be a pharmacy technician in Idaho you must:
- Meet certain requirements set forth by the Board of Pharmacy
- Register with the Board of Pharmacy
A career on the medical industry, even at the level of a pharmacy technician is a good choice for a variety of reasons. For one thing this is an industry that has a good reputation in terms of job stability and security for those employed in it. It is also an industry that is fairly well known for priding good benefits to its employees. Wherever there are people, pharmacists and their technicians are required in order to dispense medications correctly and fill out prescriptions, meaning that you will always be able to find work as a pharmacy technician in Idaho once you have completed your training and received the necessary certification from the state board of pharmacy. When selecting a school keep your options open and apply to as many as possible in order to enhance your chances of being accepted.
Pharmacy Technician Training In Idaho
The basic requirements to become a pharmacy technician in Idaho are as follows:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must be of ‘good moral character’
- You must have a high school diploma or its equivalent
Idaho is one of the states that require its pharmacy technicians to become certified as such in order to work under that title. There are a number of boards that offer certification exams, including:
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
- The Institute for Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT)
Although formal training is not required it is looked on favorably by these certification boards as well as by potential employers.
To maintain your registration with the Idaho board of pharmacy you need to complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years in activities approved by the certifying organization.
In Idaho you cannot work as a pharmacy technician if you have certain criminal activities on your record. The following will exclude you from being a pharmacy technician:
- Felony convictions of any kind
- Convictions involving state or federal drug laws
- Crimes involving moral turpitude
- Other crime that would suggest a compromise of professional duties
Pharmacy Technician Careers In Idaho
Careers for pharmacy technicians in Idaho are looking very good indeed. This is because from the year 210 until the year 2020 we expect to see growth in the pharmacy technician industry of 32%. This is an incredibly high percentage when you consider that the expected growth rate for all occupations is only 14%. Pharmacy technicians are definitely at the top end of the growth spectrum. What this means for students who begin their training now is that they can be guaranteed of finding employment once they complete their program and enter the job market. Having certification will help them to get the best jobs as it will give them an advantage over the competition. Fewer pharmacy aides will be hired in the future, which means that pharmacy assistants will have an increase in responsibility, teaching them valuable skills to take forward with them in that career to any other career they may become interested in pursuing in the future. In addition to receiving certification it is also beneficial to belong o a pharmacy technician society or organization as these groups usually offer excellent benefits and opportunities for career advancement. Networking opportunities will also arise, putting you in contact with members of the industry you may otherwise never have met.
List Of Pharmacy Technician Programs In Idaho
There are a number of pharmacy technician programs in Idaho offered by face-to-face, online and correspondence schools. Regardless of which type of program you choose you have to ensure that it is properly accredited. If it is not accredited your hard work will count for very little. Completing an online or correspondence program requires a lot of time and energy and you will need to determine whether or not you have the motivation required to keep yourself focused on the program. Many students need a lecturer to guide them through the course and struggle to work on their own. If you are one of these students, select a brick and mortar college instead.
Schools in Idaho
Milan Institute:
The program offered in Nampa = Pharmacy Technician
The program offered in Boise = Pharmacy Technician
Carrington College:
The program offered in Spokane = Pharmacy Technology
The program offered in Boise = Pharmacy Technology
Stevens-Henager College:
The program offered in Nampa (Satellite of Boise) = Medical Specialties (AOS)
The program offered in Idaho Falls = Medical Specialties (AOS)
The program offered in Boise = Medical Specialties (AOS)
The program offered in Logan = Medical Specialties (AOS)
Online Schools
Ultimate Medical Academy Online:
Health Sciences Associate (Pharm. Tech.)
Pharmacy Technician Diploma
Career Step:
Pharmacy Technician – Certificate
Keiser University eCampus Online (Gragg):
Associate of Arts in Health Services Administration
Correspondence Schools
Penn Foster Career School (Health):
Pharmacy Technician
Allied Schools:
Pharmacy Technician
Ashworth College:
Pharmacy Technology
Pay
In Idaho the average salary that you can expect to earn as a pharmacy technician is about $29,700. However there are a number of factors affecting how much you actually earn. One of these factors is the city you live in:
- In Boise you can earn around $38,740 a year
- In Twin Falls you can earn around $29,591 a year
- In Pocatello you can earn around $33,375 a year
Overall for the entire country pharmacy technician earn around $8.13 – $15.62 an hour with overtime rates of about $10.20 – $24.43 an hour. They eligible for bonuses of about $0.00 – $981 a year, bringing the overall potential pay to $16,988 – $35,020 a year.
The industry you work in can play a significant role in your hourly rate of pay:
- Working in a Retail Drugstore, Pharmacy Chain will earn you about $8.25 – $15.25 an hour
- Working in Retail Grocery will earn you about $8.27 – $15.72 an hour
- Working in Healthcare will earn you about $8.48 – $15.47 an hour
- Working in a Hospital will earn you about $8.74 – $15.87 an hour
Different job titles tend to come with different rates of pay:
- As a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPHT) you will earn about $19,008 – $36,363 a year
- As a Senior Certified Pharmacy Technician you will earn about $23,197 – $40,629 a year
- As a Hospital Pharmacy Technician you will earn about $21,685 – $41,851 a year
A career as a pharmacy technician in Idaho is one of the more stable careers you could select. This is because, while other industries suffer as a result of the current economic situation we see across the country, the medical industry remains strong and will continue to remain strong for a long time to come. People will always need to receive medication, and, as long as this need exists, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with the ability to dispense these medications will be invaluable. Being a pharmacy technician is a very important role and there are a number of pharmacy technician programs in Idaho through which you can achieve this goal.