Steps to become a pharmacy technician in Oklahoma
- Meet Basic Requirements: Be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED.
- Complete On-the-Job Training: Gain experience by completing an on-the-job training program under a licensed Oklahoma pharmacist.
- Complete Registration: Apply to the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy and pay the required fee. Submit to a criminal background check as part of the registration process.
- Obtain Pharmacy Technician Permit: Receive your pharmacy technician permit from the OSBP before starting work. Permits must be renewed annually.
- Consider Certification (Optional): Pursue certification through the PTCB or NHA to improve employment opportunities.
- Renew Permit Annually: Renew your pharmacy technician permit online before the expiration date, which is the last day of your birth month.
- Complete Continuing Education (Optional): If certified, complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain certification
State Requirements
- Minimum Age: Must be at least 18 years old.
- Education: A high school diploma or GED is required.
- Training: Completion of an on-the-job training program under a licensed Oklahoma pharmacist is mandatory.
- Background Check: A criminal background check is required, with specific rules regarding charges and convictions.
- Permits: Must obtain a pharmacy technician permit through the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy (OSBP).
- Renewal: The permit must be renewed annually, expiring on the last day of the technician’s birth month
Education and Training
While formal education programs (such as those offered by vocational schools or community colleges) are not legally required in Oklahoma, many employers prefer candidates who have completed them, as these programs provide essential skills and knowledge useful in daily tasks and certification exams.
These programs help prepare you for certification and provide foundational knowledge in areas like:
- Pharmacy Law and Ethics: Understanding regulations, patient confidentiality, and legal responsibilities.
- Pharmaceutical Calculations: Learning dosage calculations and conversions.
- Medication Compounding: Preparation of both sterile and non-sterile medications.
- Medical Terminology: Understanding drug classifications, abbreviations, and prescription instructions.
Many employers prefer pharmacy technicians with formal training, especially when combined with certification.
Certification
In Oklahoma, pharmacy technicians are not required by the state to obtain certification to practice. However, certification is highly recommended, as many employers prefer or require certified pharmacy technicians for employment. Certification can be obtained through two nationally recognized bodies:
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB): The PTCB offers the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), which covers essential knowledge such as medication safety, pharmacy law, and pharmaceutical calculations.
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA): The NHA offers the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT), which evaluates knowledge across similar domains as the PTCE.
Becoming certified can improve your job prospects, salary potential, and career growth, and it allows you to demonstrate a higher level of competency. Certified pharmacy technicians are also required to complete continuing education credits to maintain their certification.
Licensing/Registration
In Oklahoma, pharmacy technicians are not licensed in the traditional sense. Instead, they must obtain a pharmacy technician permit through the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy (OSBP). This permit allows them to legally work in a pharmacy under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
Key points regarding the permit:
- Initial Application: Pharmacy technicians must apply for a permit before starting work. This includes submitting an application, undergoing a criminal background check, and paying the required fee.
- Expiration: The permit expires annually on the last day of the technician’s birth month.
- Reinstatement: If a permit has been canceled, it must be reinstated before the technician can return to work. The reinstatement process requires submitting a paper application
There is no reciprocity for pharmacy technician permits from other states. Pharmacy technicians moving to Oklahoma must apply for a new permit with the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy (OSBP), even if they were registered or certified in another state.
Continuing Education
While the state of Oklahoma does not specifically mandate continuing education (CE) for pharmacy technicians to maintain their state permit, those who are nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) must complete continuing education to retain their certification.
- PTCB: Requires 20 hours of CE every two years, including at least 1 hour in pharmacy law.
- NHA: Also requires 20 hours of CE, with similar content guidelines.
Staying up to date with CE is important for maintaining certification and staying informed on evolving pharmacy practices and regulations.
Resources
Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy
www.pharmacy.ok.gov
Office: 4545 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 112. Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3488
Telephone: 405-521-3815
Fax: 405-521-3758
Professional Association for Oklahoma Pharmacy Technicians:
Oklahoma Pharmacists Association (OPhA)
www.opha.com