Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians are in great demand both locally and nationally and credentialed technicians have a solid career path.

In-Demand Career

Pharmacy technicians are in great demand both locally and nationally and credentialed technicians have a solid career path. The role of the pharmacy technician is to dispense medications, interact with patients and many may soon be administering COVID-19 tests and vaccines, according to the Forbes article “In Boost To CVS And Walgreens, U.S. Expands Covid-19 Vaccination Powers To Pharmacy Techs.” This is an exciting opportunity to enter a high-demand medical field.

Currently, there is a 4 percent increase in demand for this career each year. In October 2020, NBC News reported “CVS to hire thousands of pharmacy techs as it prepares for more Covid-19 cases, rollout of vaccine.” Locally, there are more than 100 open positions.

Salary

Starting salary for certified pharmacy technicians is approximately $33,000 per year and those who continue a career path in this field could earn $60,000 per year.

Hudson Valley Community College Instructor Deb Brown has been in the field for 25 years and currently works as the Lead Pharmacy Technician at CVS. “I love teaching my students what a rewarding job it is to help people every day,” said Brown.

Certification

At Hudson Valley, you can earn your certification completely online. Dean of Economic Development and Workforce Initiatives Penny Hill recently announced that “our program is recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), which allows our students to sit for the nationally-recognized Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. Passing this exam makes you even more attractive to employers,” said Hill.

Course Starting Soon

Is a pharmacy technician career right for you? Hudson Valley offers a 13-week online Pharmacy Technician course, which includes a mandatory online remote class with the instructor once a week. Tuition assistance may be available for some students!