Preparing for the Workforce- State Requirements-
Certification Exams Questions and Answers
Registration - Correct Answer generally means that an individual is required to sign
up or register with a state agency, such as the State Board of Pharmacy, before
starting practice. Registration includes individuals working in a pharmacy as
technicians submitting information on where they live and work to the state board of
pharmacy. The technician may be required to meet certain requirements upon
registration, such as an age requirement and passing a background check, may or
may not require additional training or education, and certification may be required.
Registration allows the state board to more easily track any individuals with felony,
theft, or drug diversion histories and prevent them from working in pharmacies.
Note that most states require registration and while it is often the sole requirement
for becoming a pharmacy technician, it may also be part of a larger set of
requirements. Make sure you fully understand your specific state requirements.
Mistakes could cost you your opportunity for employment.
Licensure - Correct Answer refers to the granting of a license by the state; it is
usually required to work in a particular profession in order to ensure that the public is
not harmed by the incompetence of the practitioners. People become licensed
through training and/or passing an exam. Licensure is usually renewable and is
often dependent on keeping current on knowledge and skills.
Remember, too, that states all have different requirements for licensure, all of
varying degrees of strictness. Most states require that a pharmacy technician be a
high school graduate and have acquired the knowledge and skill set needed to
complete the necessary tasks. Some states require that a technician complete a
training program (which in some instances must be approved by the state board of
pharmacy), and some specify a certain number of training hours. Many states
require that a pharmacy technician pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification
Exam (PTCE) or a similar test. Some states also require on-the-job training or
externships. Many states allow for a few different routes that can be taken,
depending on the prospective pharmacy technician's situation.
Licensure is a measure taken to ensure the public is not harmed by the
incompetence of a given practitioner. - Correct Answer True
In most states, pharmacy technicians are required to have a college education in
order to gain licensure. - Correct Answer False
Pharmacy technicians do not need to gain new licensure for each state they work in.
- Correct Answer False
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam is a standardized test many states
require in order to become a pharmacy technician. - Correct Answer True
, Externships - Correct Answer aren't typically required by states but may be in a few
cases. They are unpaid and are a way for prospective pharmacy technicians to gain
experience working in a pharmacy. They can be a wide range of hours (just a few
hours or multiple-hour shifts over many weeks) and can be completed either while
taking a pharmacy technician course or after completion. Pharmacists often
welcome externs because they provide extra assistance in a pharmacy for no cost.
You can contact local pharmacies directly to arrange externship opportunities.
Even if your state doesn't require an externship, it may still be a good idea for you to
complete one for the following reasons: - Correct Answer 1. Externships provide a
good opportunity to learn more about the pharmacy tasks and processes you've
been introduced to in this course. You can see and try the things you've read about.
2. Pharmacies often hire externs after their externships have been completed
because the pharmacists already know them and their quality of work.
3. Any experience in a pharmacy is good to put on your resume. Another pharmacy
may be more likely to hire you if they see that you already have some experience.
On-the-job training - Correct Answer differs from externships in that it takes place
after a pharmacy technician has been hired by a pharmacy. It is paid. Many states
require on-the-job training for licensure (up to 1,500 hours depending on the state),
during which time you are permitted to work in the state as a pharmacy technician-
in-training. Typically, a portion of your work hours is devoted to hands-on and written
training for a specified period of time. This typically must be overseen by the
pharmacist-in-charge or the pharmacy manager.
Most pharmacies, especially chains, have their own training programs that teach or
review the basics of working as a pharmacy technician with special emphasis placed
on their internal processes and the software they use. These programs prepare you
to work in their pharmacy but not to pass certification exams. In states where an
ASHP/ACPE* or board-approved program is required, you may need to find a job at
a pharmacy with an approved on-the-job-training program in order to be licensed.
Our course will provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge and preparation for
certification before you begin the on-the-job program.
Externships provide a good opportunity to learn more about the pharmacy _____.
-manager
-chain
-tasks and processes
-exam - Correct Answer tasks and processes
Many states require _____ for licensure.
-on-the-job training
-2 years of training
-specialized training
-no training - Correct Answer on-the-job training
Certification Exams Questions and Answers
Registration - Correct Answer generally means that an individual is required to sign
up or register with a state agency, such as the State Board of Pharmacy, before
starting practice. Registration includes individuals working in a pharmacy as
technicians submitting information on where they live and work to the state board of
pharmacy. The technician may be required to meet certain requirements upon
registration, such as an age requirement and passing a background check, may or
may not require additional training or education, and certification may be required.
Registration allows the state board to more easily track any individuals with felony,
theft, or drug diversion histories and prevent them from working in pharmacies.
Note that most states require registration and while it is often the sole requirement
for becoming a pharmacy technician, it may also be part of a larger set of
requirements. Make sure you fully understand your specific state requirements.
Mistakes could cost you your opportunity for employment.
Licensure - Correct Answer refers to the granting of a license by the state; it is
usually required to work in a particular profession in order to ensure that the public is
not harmed by the incompetence of the practitioners. People become licensed
through training and/or passing an exam. Licensure is usually renewable and is
often dependent on keeping current on knowledge and skills.
Remember, too, that states all have different requirements for licensure, all of
varying degrees of strictness. Most states require that a pharmacy technician be a
high school graduate and have acquired the knowledge and skill set needed to
complete the necessary tasks. Some states require that a technician complete a
training program (which in some instances must be approved by the state board of
pharmacy), and some specify a certain number of training hours. Many states
require that a pharmacy technician pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification
Exam (PTCE) or a similar test. Some states also require on-the-job training or
externships. Many states allow for a few different routes that can be taken,
depending on the prospective pharmacy technician's situation.
Licensure is a measure taken to ensure the public is not harmed by the
incompetence of a given practitioner. - Correct Answer True
In most states, pharmacy technicians are required to have a college education in
order to gain licensure. - Correct Answer False
Pharmacy technicians do not need to gain new licensure for each state they work in.
- Correct Answer False
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam is a standardized test many states
require in order to become a pharmacy technician. - Correct Answer True
, Externships - Correct Answer aren't typically required by states but may be in a few
cases. They are unpaid and are a way for prospective pharmacy technicians to gain
experience working in a pharmacy. They can be a wide range of hours (just a few
hours or multiple-hour shifts over many weeks) and can be completed either while
taking a pharmacy technician course or after completion. Pharmacists often
welcome externs because they provide extra assistance in a pharmacy for no cost.
You can contact local pharmacies directly to arrange externship opportunities.
Even if your state doesn't require an externship, it may still be a good idea for you to
complete one for the following reasons: - Correct Answer 1. Externships provide a
good opportunity to learn more about the pharmacy tasks and processes you've
been introduced to in this course. You can see and try the things you've read about.
2. Pharmacies often hire externs after their externships have been completed
because the pharmacists already know them and their quality of work.
3. Any experience in a pharmacy is good to put on your resume. Another pharmacy
may be more likely to hire you if they see that you already have some experience.
On-the-job training - Correct Answer differs from externships in that it takes place
after a pharmacy technician has been hired by a pharmacy. It is paid. Many states
require on-the-job training for licensure (up to 1,500 hours depending on the state),
during which time you are permitted to work in the state as a pharmacy technician-
in-training. Typically, a portion of your work hours is devoted to hands-on and written
training for a specified period of time. This typically must be overseen by the
pharmacist-in-charge or the pharmacy manager.
Most pharmacies, especially chains, have their own training programs that teach or
review the basics of working as a pharmacy technician with special emphasis placed
on their internal processes and the software they use. These programs prepare you
to work in their pharmacy but not to pass certification exams. In states where an
ASHP/ACPE* or board-approved program is required, you may need to find a job at
a pharmacy with an approved on-the-job-training program in order to be licensed.
Our course will provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge and preparation for
certification before you begin the on-the-job program.
Externships provide a good opportunity to learn more about the pharmacy _____.
-manager
-chain
-tasks and processes
-exam - Correct Answer tasks and processes
Many states require _____ for licensure.
-on-the-job training
-2 years of training
-specialized training
-no training - Correct Answer on-the-job training
