Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Maine

As of June 1st, 2012, the state of Maine houses roughly 265 hospital and retail pharmacies.  Altogether, they employ more than two thousand full time pharmacy technicians.  Of these, only about forty percent hold up-to-date licenses from Maine's Pharmacy Board.  Part of the reason for this is that many technicians are trainees undergoing the licensing process.  Others are awaiting licensing renewal.  Whatever the reason, it seems clear that pharmacists overwhelmingly prefer licensed pharmacy technicians.  However, licensing laws and regulations regarding pharmacy technicians will vary from state to state.  The state of Maine has its own set of guidelines pertaining to pharmacy technicians. 

Maine State Regulations for Pharmacy Technicians

Although licensing (also know as Board certification) is not required for employment as a pharmacy technician in Maine, pharmacists are generally reluctant to hire unlicensed assistants, partly because of the legal limitations involved in the permissible on-the-job activities of unlicensed technicians.  For example, federal law mandates that unlicensed pharmacy technicians cannot handle, mix, package, label or issue any controlled substances (prescriptions).  Licensing for Maine-based pharmacy technicians requires registration with the Maine Pharmacy Board.  Strangely enough, their regulations do not mention minimum age limits or level of education required.  Applicants need only submit a completed application with a thirty-five dollar registration fee enclosed.  Training is available on-the-job.  Continuing education is required only to maintain certification.  All pharmacy technician licenses issued in the state of Maine must be annually renewed by the last day of the month that the license was originally issued.  Certification also requires earning a passing grade on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam.  According to Maine state law, the maximum allowable ratio of pharmacy technicians to pharmacists in the state of Maine is three to one (3:1), but can be increased to four to one (4:1) if at least one technician is Board certified.  Interns are not counted in this ratio.  Pharmacy technicians, as well as pharmacists, are expected to be familiar with all applicable state and federal laws. 

Maine Training Programs for Pharmacy Technicians Include:

Maine residents who wish to pursue employment as pharmaceutical technicians will often acquire professional qualifications at accredited local colleges.  However, most aspiring pharmacy technicians in Maine prefer the convenience of online educational alternatives.  Popular accredited online colleges with Board approved degree programs for for pharmacy technicians include Ultimate Medical Academy, Vatterott College, Milwaukee Career College, InterCoast College, Everest Institute and Kaplan Career Institute, to name only a few.