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Becoming a pharmacy technician in California

The demand for pharmacy technicians in California is unique compared to other states. Here's why.

Pharmacy technicians play an important role in the healthcare industry. They help ensure that patients not only receive the correct medications at their appropriate dosages but also provide essential information to help keep patients informed and safe.

The demand for pharmacy technicians in California is unique compared to other states. According to data from the Healthforce Center at UCSF, pharmacists in California account for a larger share—some 10%—of the total pharmacists in the country than any other state. Thanks to the opening of five new California schools of pharmacy, California PharmD graduates increased by 32% from 2018 to 2023.

This means there may be more opportunities for pharmacy technicians, who will be needed to assist pharmacists in their duties. In fact, in California, health and personal care stores employ 38.2% of pharmacy technicians, while general medical and surgical hospitals, physicians' offices, grocery stores and outpatient care centers also utilize their skills and knowledge.

Understanding the role of a pharmacy technician 

Pharmacy technicians often work in retail pharmacies and hospitals, and they work under a pharmacist's supervision. Technicians support pharmacists through the process of dispensing prescription medications to patients or health professionals.

Ralph Daniel, a Pharmacy Technician Apprentice at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Pharmacy at Centerra, explains that there are many responsibilities involved in his daily work.

"Regardless of what your task is, patient safety is always number one," he says. "Here in my pharmacy, we have several roles and we rotate throughout the day to keep fresh." The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Pharmacy has both a register and a drive-through, so pharmacy technicians may work in both areas. In this setting, customers also include hospital patients who have been discharged and who have come over to the hospital to pick up their medications.

"Regardless of what your task is, patient safety is always number one."

Daniel says that pharmacy technicians are also responsible for preparing medications for sale. "You're printing labels and basically shopping the pharmacy for the medications," he explains. Once Daniel brings a medication back to his desk, he scans the label—a step in a series of checks and balances to make sure that the right item is dispensed. "Next, you count out the medication, verify it with your personal code so we know who counted the medication and then it goes to the pharmacist to be verified. Then, it goes up on the racks or to the patient."

He explains that pharmacy technicians also support the data and adjudication processes. "When prescriptions come in, we're verifying the medication, entering it and typing it up for the pharmacist to pre-verify," he says. The pharmacist makes sure that all of the medication's information has been correctly entered. "There can also be issues with insurance," he says. "We may have to figure out why it's not going through or submit for a prior authorization."

Requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician in California

To work as a pharmacy technician, the state of California requires you to have a pharmacy technician license. That licensing process requires you to meet certain educational requirements.

In addition to obtaining a high school diploma or earning a GED, you must complete one of the following educational requirements established by the California State Board of Pharmacy:

• A pharmacy technician training program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• A course that includes a training period of at least 240 hours of instruction that includes, among other requirements:
  • Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy practice settings
  • Knowledge and understanding of pharmacy technician duties and responsibilities, including knowledge of pharmacy ethics, laws and regulations
  • Knowledge and ability to identify and use medical terms, abbreviations and symbols common when prescribing, dispensing and recording medications

Alternatively, a student may earn a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board certificate or a National Healthcareer Association Pharmacy Technician Certification Program certificate. Pharmacy technician training provided by a branch of the federal armed services can also satisfy the education requirement.

Training and externships can provide valuable real-world experience, and they also give students an opportunity to develop their professional network, potentially leading to future career opportunities. Your pharmacy technician program might provide training and externship support, but it's also possible for students to seek out these resources on their own.

"I looked up the main hospital system and saw the different apprenticeship programs they have," says Daniel. "These programs seem to be becoming more and more popular, which is a fantastic way to help people start on a new path."

California state-specific regulations

The California State Board of Pharmacy is responsible for protecting the health and safety of Californians. The Board oversees the training and licensing of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and also provides education, communication, legislation, regulation and enforcement to ensure safe and appropriate use of pharmaceuticals.

The California State Board of Pharmacy is responsible for establishing and maintaining laws governing pharmacy operations in the state. Pharmacy technicians in California must adhere to the Lawbook for Pharmacy.

The PTCB certification exam

Earning a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certification can satisfy the California licensing educational requirement and can help your application to stand out to employers. To earn your certification, you will need to earn a passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. To take the exam, you must complete a PTCB-recognized education or training program, or have a minimum of 500 hours of equivalent work experience as a pharmacy technician.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam has a $129 exam fee and consists of 90 multiple-choice questions. The PTCB website has study resources to help you prepare.

Alternatively, you might decide to pursue a National Healthcareer Association (NHA) pharmacy technician certification, which also certifies California licensing educational requirements. To take the NHA certification exam, you must have a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency. You must have completed a pharmacy technician training or education program within the last five years, or you must have one year of work experience that includes at least 1,200 hours of supervised pharmacy work within the previous three years.

The NHA exam consists of 100 questions, and study guides are available for purchase.

Pharmacy tech salary in California

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that pharmacy technicians made a median annual wage of $40,300 in 2023. Take a look at salaries specific to the state of California:

Several factors impact potential salary ranges. A pharmacy technician with more experience or with certifications may be eligible for higher pay rates than an entry-level technician. Location and the type of industry also impact salary. The median annual wages for pharmacy technicians in outpatient care centers were the highest, at $61,080. Pharmacy technicians in pharmacies and drug retail settings earned a median annual wage of $40,170.

Career pathways and opportunities

Daniel explains that while pharmacy technician roles are typically entry-level, there are advancement opportunities that come with more roles and responsibilities. "Here, there are different ladders. Tech 1 is a basic entry-level role, but from there you can apply to take on more roles and responsibilities, like Tech 2 and Tech 3," he says. "With our pharmacy, there is a test that we have to take to advance to the next step."

He also says that pharmacy technicians may work their way up to leadership roles, in which they take an active role in guiding pharmacy staff, doing ordering and taking on more management responsibilities. Alternatively, a pharmacy technician might choose to complete additional schooling to ultimately become a pharmacist.

Daniel notes that since his employer is part of the hospital system, pharmacy technicians receive the same health insurance that the nurses and medical assistants receive. "We have one of the best benefit programs I've had in a long time through the hospital," he says. "We have full benefits and great paid time off. If you work a holiday, you get holiday pay. With most hospital systems, if you work nights and weekends, it's a shift differential," meaning pharmacy technicians can earn higher pay for these particular shifts.

Challenges and rewards of the profession

While a career as a pharmacy technician in California comes with many benefits, it has some significant challenges, too.

Pharmacy technicians need to be highly detail-oriented and focused throughout their entire shift. "It's a very stressful position," says Daniel. "You have to be able to work at a fast pace and stay focused." 

He explains that communication can often be a challenge, especially when hospital patients are being discharged and the pharmacy hasn't yet received a prescription from their physicians. "The patients are upset and they want to go home," says Daniel. "It's a stressful environment and it's something you have to be able to navigate."

But the job also has many rewards. Pharmacy technicians have the satisfaction of helping to keep people safe and healthy. They may get to build bonds with regular customers, and they have the reward of knowing that their work is making a difference in others' lives.

Resources for pharmacy technicians in California

Fortunately for aspiring pharmacy technicians, the state of California has several resources to help you thrive in your career choice, or prepare to advance with continuing education and professional certification. Here are just a few that may help:

• The California State Board of Pharmacy posts information for pharmacy technicians, including licensing requirements and updates about legislature and policies. 
• The California Pharmacists Association provides resources for pharmaceutical professionals, offers continuing education, hosts webinars and more.   
• The California Society of Health-System Pharmacists offers many resources including newsletters and career information, advocacy tools, conferences, certificate programs and more.

Getting started on your pharm tech education path

Becoming a pharmacy technician in California requires not only a specialized education but also licensing. If you're thinking of becoming a pharmacy technician, it's helpful to review the licensing requirements early on to make sure that you're choosing an educational path that will prepare you for licensure.

A pharmacy technician career can be highly rewarding, and the fact that California's population is aging suggests that there will be an increased need for pharmacy technicians. If you're looking for a career that allows you to truly make a difference in others' lives, then you may want to start researching pharmacy technician education programs in the Golden State.

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Published: November 28, 2023