Pharmacy Technician Schools Currently Accepting Applicants in Louisiana
Pharmacy Technician Schools and Programs in Louisiana
The pelican state has a population of 4.6 million; the number of employed pharmacy technicians in the year 2021 was 6,240 and it has been estimated that the number will shoot up to 6,430 by 2030. This corresponds to 490 new openings every year. Pharmacy technology is a swiftly growing business, chiefly due to an aging population and major advances in the medical arena. The average annual salary of a pharmacy technician in Louisiana per year is $34,840. The state has 22 schools which offer pharmacy technician education programs. To help find the right school which will give you the best return on your investment, we have closely looked into all these schools and ranked the Top 10 ASHP accredited pharmacy technician schools in Louisiana.
8 Best ASHP Accredited Pharmacy Technician Schools in Louisiana for 2024
(Following is a list of schools offering the best pharmacy technician programs in Louisiana)
#1. Northshore Technical Community College - Bogalusa, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 9 to 12 months for the certificate course and 2 years for the Associated degree course.
#2. Louisiana State University - Alexandria, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length: 9 to 12 months for the certificate course and 2 years for the Associated degree course.
#3. Delgado Community College - New Orleans, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:9 to 12 months for the certificate course and 2 years for the Associated degree course.
#4. Central Louisiana Technical Community College - Alexandria, Louisiana
![](/img/Central-Louisiana-Technical-Community-College.jpg)
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:2 semesters for the Certificate
#5. Bossier Parish Community College - Bossier City, Louisiana
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Located in Bossier city, Northwest Louisiana, the Bossier Parish Community College is one of the fastest growing community colleges in the country. It is dedicated to designing novel programs which have been specifically created to support high-demand employment sectors. They boast of long-standing partnership with Barksdale Air Force Base and have been honored for 6 successive years to the coveted Military Friendly Schools list, which tributes the top 15 percent of colleges who provide excellent service to military students. The college is also proud of partnerships with business and industry in the region. A host of companies serve on the advisory board and give direct inputs into the curriculum. Subjects covered in the syllabus include - Pharmacy Laws, Pharmacology terms, inventory control, anatomy, physiology and computer technology.
Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:9 to 12 months for the certificate course and 2 years for the Associated degree course.
#6. Baton Rouge Community College - Port Allen, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:32 credit hours for the Certificate program
#7. Remington College - Lafayette Campus, Shreveport, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:9 to 12 months for the Certificate course and 2 years for the Associate degree course.
#8. Unitech Training Academy - Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, West Monroe, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:9 to 12 months for the Certificate program
Infinity College - Lafayette
Infinity College located in Lafayette, Louisiana offers diplomas and certificate programs in specialized areas of academics. The college offers two programs for aspiring technicians one is a 26-week program the other a 50-week program. The coursework includes - Pharmacology, Basic Pharmaceutics, Dosage Calculations, and Ambulatory Pharmacy Practice. By completing this program, you can be employed in retail pharmacies, hospitals, long term care centers and other health care settings where you will assist the licensed pharmacist.
Healthcare Training Institute - Kenner
Healthcare Training Institute provides quality healthcare education to students in Louisiana at its campus in Kenner. Healthcare Training Institute offers an 18-month training program in pharmacy technology to help students gain the required skills and knowledge to pass the PTCB examination and find employment as a certified pharmacy technician in a retail or hospital pharmacy. The coursework includes topics like medical terminology, pharmacy law, pharmaceutical calculations, drug dispensing and compounding. By the end of this program you should be able to handle all duties and responsibilities as outlined by the Louisiana board of pharmacy.
Ayers Career College - Shreveport
Ayers Career College one of the oldest colleges in the Shreveport region has been offering a 36-week pharmacy technician diploma program since 2004. Ayers basically offers training programs for in demand careers and also offers job placement assistance. The program includes classroom sessions, laboratory work, and hands on training to help you gain real work experience. Coursework is designed to help you learn and understand – medical terms, pharmacy law, calculations, mixing, insurance processing and handling patient records.
Programs Currently on Hold or Discontinued
Medical Training College - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:9 months Training program
Virginia College - Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Louisiana
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Accreditation: ASHP
Program Length:9 to 12 months for the Certificate course and 2 years for the Associate degree course.
What are the Requirements to Work as a Pharmacy Technician in Louisiana?
Louisiana mandates registration and certification before you can work as a pharmacy technician in the state. To get your licensure you need to obtain 400 hours of on the job training that are pharmacist supervised and 200 hours of training from a pharmacy technician program. You also need to complete 10 credit hours each year of board approved education to maintain your license as a pharmacy technician in Louisiana.
Registration/Licensure | Yes |
Education | Yes |
Certification | Yes |
Pharmacy Technician to Pharmacist Ratio | 2/3 to 1 |
Continuing Education | Yes |
Certification Maintenance | No |
(source: ptcb.org) |
Education: To complete your pharmacy technician education you must comply with the following:
Step 1: Obtain a high school diploma or GED.
Step 2: Complete either a certificate/diploma or an associate degree training program.
The following information helps bring in clarity and help you narrow down your college and courses options:
Accreditation: Accreditation is an attestation that a collegiate program has met with the standards which are necessary; thus, it is very vital that you select a pharmacy technician program which is acknowledged by a nationally certified agency such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
Type of Program: Louisiana 22 pharmacy technician schools, of these; 1 school offers an associate degree program of two years and 22 schools offer a certificate/diploma program of 9 months. You must look in to the fee structure as well as duration of each program and decide on the kind of syllabus which is the best-fit for you.
Financial Aid: Financial assistance may comprise of grants and loans. Federal student loans give assistance related to college enrollment and have a low interest. You need to understand your financial eligibility and find out if your college offers any kind of financial help and how you will be able to benefit from it.
Certification
You have to be certified to practice as a pharmacy technician in Louisiana. The PTCB is approved in the state of Louisiana.
Licensure
• You need to register as a Pharmacy Technician with the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy with a fee of $25 which is non-refundable.
• Submit a criminal background check.
• Submit proof of enrollment at a Board approved pharmacy technician program.
• Pass the State Board of Pharmacy Exam - PTCB.
• Complete 600 hours of experience in the field with 200 hours earned from a structured pharmacy technician curriculum.
• You need to then apply as a certified pharmacy technician once you have completed the educational and training requirements as directed by the State Board of Pharmacy in Louisiana. The application fee is $100.
• License renewal every year is necessary. Licenses expire every 30th of June. A fee of $50 must be given as well.
Employment Opportunities
River Oak's Hospital, LHC Group, East Jefferson General Hospital, Pharmerica, Walgreens, Cardinal Health and CVS Health recruit pharmacy techs in Louisiana.
Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician in Louisiana
The annual average salary of a pharmacy technician in Louisiana is $34,840. Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 10.10% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. An aging population, with older people typically using more prescription drugs than younger people; a higher rate of chronic ailments leads to an increased demand for medications and advances in pharmaceutical research allow for more prescription medications to be used to battle illnesses.
Pharmacy Technicians Currently Working in LA | 10 Year Job Growth | Annual Vacancies | Average Starting Salary | Average Annual Salary | ||
2020 | 2030 | % Growth | ||||
6,240 | 5,840 | 6,430 | 10.10% | 490 | $28,280 | $34,840 |
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