Pharmacy Technician Schools and Programs in Alabama

An increased demand for prescription drugs leads to a bigger demand for pharmaceutical services and hence, the prospects for pharmacy technicians in the state of Alabama are excellent. The average salary of a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama is $32,620 per year. There are 10 schools offering pharmacy technician programs in Alabama. With a limited choice in terms of pharmacy technician education, to give you the best options from this little choice, we have evaluated these 10 schools and come up with a list of the Top 2 pharmacy technician schools in Alabama. These schools are recognized for their commitment towards the field of pharmacy technology. The schools have been ranked based on our methodology which takes into account factors like tuition cost, student faculty ratio and graduation rate

2 Best ASHP Accredited Pharmacy Technician Schools in Alabama for 2023

(Following is a list of schools offering the best pharmacy technician programs in Alabama)

#1. George C Wallace State Community College - Hanceville

George C Wallace a community college located in Hanceville, Alabama. The college was established in 1966 and the highest degree offered at the college is an associate degree. Its healthcare programs are one of their popular programs. The college is committed towards providing student-centric education along with their team of experienced and dedicated faculty. At Wallace you can easily find support at every step, be it from web registration, to personal advising and student support services in their Learning Success Center. Its Pharmacy Technician Certificate program is a short course which can teach you all the relevant knowledge and skills for you to start with your career in Pharmacy Technology. The 27 hour program covers courses such as Introduction to Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Computers and Billing, Institutional Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Drugs and Health and a Clinical Practicum.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 27 hours for the Certificate program

#2. Remington College - Mobile Campus

Remington College has a branch of its college in Mobile, Alabama. The Mobile campus offers various diplomas and associate degrees. There are two options offered in Pharmacy Technology, namely, Associate Degree and Diploma. The programs are offered in the online and campus mode. Students who possess a diploma are allowed to transfer 100% of their credits towards earning their associate degree. The externship training which is part of the program will give you an opportunity to receive hands on training in prescription interpretation, sterile product mixtures and compounding. The opportunity to train besides other working pharmacy technicians in a real-time pharmacy can give you the exposure enabling you to take on your job as a pharmacy technician soon after you graduate.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 13 months for the Certificate and 24 months for the Associate Degree

Programs Currently on Hold or Discontinued

Virginia College - Birmingham, Mobile

Virginia College is a private for profit college, having its main campus in Birmingham and one in Mobile, Alabama. The college has its other campuses located in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Both the Alabama campuses have made it to our ranking list. Both these campuses offer a diploma in Pharmacy Technology. You get an environment conducive for academic excellence, small sized classrooms with individualized attention, approachable expert faculty and real-time learning experience with clinical experience when you enroll for this program. The coursework comprises of - anatomy, physiology, first aid, pharmacy laws and ethics, drug interactions, medical abbreviations, and computers.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 15 months for the Diploma program

What are the Requirements to Work as a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama?

Alabama does not mandate training to become a pharmacy technician. Once you obtain your license, you need to work under the direction of a licensed pharmacist. The Alabama Board of Pharmacy does not necessitate formal education and certification to register as a pharmacy technician; conversely, employers hire you and agree on a salary based on your education and certification.

Education: When opting for formal education to become a pharmcy technician, make certain that you inspect all the facets of the training program and decide an Alabama pharmacy technician school which is most optimal to meet your requirements. Pick a school which is ASHP accredited - American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Additionally, you must figure out whether you want to complete a certificate course (9 months training) or an associated degree course (2 years training). Alabama has 10 schools offering certificate courses and 1 school which offers the associated degree course. Also, fill in the FAFSA for financial aid for the schooling.

Pharmacy technicians need to complete 3 hours of approved continuing education every year, 1hour of which must be live credit. The CE credit should be approved by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy or ACPE-T.

Certification: The state does not require certification to work as a pharmacy technician. Nonetheless, if you are certified, other aspirants who are not certified can be elbowed out, thus giving you a superior chance of gaining a job. Approved certification exams in Alabama include PTCB (PTCE) and/or ICPT (ExCPT).

Licensure: Pharma techs in Alabama are regulated. Licensure is mandatory. You need to renew your license biennially on odd numbered years and the fee is $40.

Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician in Alabama

The BLS estimates that the job outlook for pharmacy technicians is good and is anticipated to rise quickly. The BLS says that there is a 10.96% job expansion between the years 2020 - 2030.

UAB Medicine, CSI Companies, SGS, Cahaba Pharmacy, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and Triad Health provide a host of job openings in Alabama.

More Pharmacy Technician Programs

Nearby States

Arkansas Florida Georgia

Louisiana Mississippi Tennessee

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