Pharmacy Technician Schools and Programs in South Dakota

South Dakota called the Mount Rushmore state has a small population of 895,376 (as of 2021) and employs 1,220 pharmacy technicians in its various clinical settings. The steady rise in population has led to a constant demand for pharmacy technicians and annually you can expect at least 110 job openings. There are currently 2 schools in South Dakota that provide pharmacy technician training. Both of these schools are ASHP accredited.

View ASHP Accredited Pharmacy Technician Schools in South Dakota

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

Western Dakota Technical Institute - Rapid City

Based out of Rapid City, Western Dakota Technical Institute since 1968 has been helping students gain the required knowledge and skills to succeed in their careers. Depending on your needs and affordability you can either choose a diploma or an associate of applied science degree in Pharmacy Technology. With a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on lab training WDKT trains you to assist registered pharmacists, in all aspects of day to day smooth running of a pharmacy. Upon graduation you can find employment in a retail or hospital pharmacy.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Type: Diploma and Associate Degree
Program Length: 11 Months and 2 years

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

South Dakota regulates its pharmacy technicians. Out of 1,220 pharmacy technicians working in the state, 1,164 are PTCB certified. Additionally the state also mandates training from a board approved pharmacy technician school.

Education: In South Dakota to work as a Pharmacy Technician, you need to fulfil the following pre-requisites:

• High School Diploma or a GED

• Completing a pharmacy technician program from an ASHP accredited school.

You can either opt for a Certificate, Diploma or an Associate program. Out of the 2 schools in the state, 2 schools offer a diploma and one offers an Associate.

While deciding on your path of education, think over which program will fall in line with your career aspirations. While the Diploma will be considerably less expensive and shorter in duration, you will mostly learn the entry level knowledge and skills of being a pharmacy technician. An Associate on the other hand will be more comprehensive and can be a good option if you plan to take up advanced pharmacy technician positions or even if you want to study further. However, the Associate will cost you more money and will take almost two times the duration to complete.

Also ensure the school you picking is ASHP accredited as you can be assured of getting quality education.

If financial aid is what you are considering, then check whether the school provides any kind of aid and if you will be eligible for the same. Additionally, fill in the FAFSA for financial aid for schooling.

Certification: The state board requires you to be certified to be able to work as a pharmacy technician. The PTCB is the approved certification in South Dakota.

Licensure: The state board mandates licensure for a pharmacy technician in SD. You need to apply and register for a license within 30 days of accepting employment as a pharmacy technician in any South Dakota Pharmacy.

Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician in South Dakota

A pharmacy technician in South Dakota earns an average annual salary of $37,240. The BLS projects an employment growth rate of 9.02% through a ten year period of 2020 to 2030. Some of the top employers where you can find opening include, Avera Mckennan Hospital, Shopko, Safeway, Walgreens, Stanford Health and Hy-Vee.

Nearby States

Iowa Minnesota Montana

Nebraska North Dakota Wyoming

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