Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Nebraska

As of June 1st, 2012, the state of Nebraska supports roughly four hundred institutional and retail pharmacies.  Altogether, they employ approximately 2,230 full time pharmacy technicians, according to recent data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Pharmacy technicians are assistants to licensed pharmacists, often helping with the preparation and processing of prescription drugs and other controlled substances.  Nonetheless, not even half of Nebraska's pharmacy technicians hold up-to-date licenses with the state's Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).  Regulations regarding the activities and licensing of pharmacy technicians vary from state to state.  Nebraska has its own set of guidelines pertaining to their training and professional employment.

Nebraska State Regulations for Pharmacy Technicians

Most local pharmacists prefer Board certified technicians.  So it seems obvious that licensed technicians are much more marketable than unlicensed assistants, whose on-the-job tasks may be legally limited to inventory, customer service and clerical support.  Federal law prohibits the handling of controlled substances by unlicensed pharmaceutical assistants.  State Board certification is not a requirement for employment as a pharmacy technician in the state of Nebraska.  However, all pharmacy technicians employed at Nebraska pharmacies must register with the Board within thirty days of the first day of employment.  Registrants for local employment must be at least eighteen years of age, free of felony convictions and able to provide proof of at least a high school diploma or GED.  Registration requires the submission of a completed application with a twenty-five dollar application fee. Registration must be renewed every two years, no later than January 1st of odd numbered years.  Continuing education is required only to maintain certification. Pharmacy technician training is most often issued on the job by supervising pharmacists.  The maximum permissible ratio of pharmacy technicians to pharmacists in the state of Nebraska is two to one (2:1). 

Nebraska Training Programs for Pharmacy Technicians Include:

Nebraska residents who are interested in pursuing employment as pharmacy technicians can enroll in state-approved learning programs at accredited local colleges such as University of Phoenix and Vatterott College in Omaha, University of Nebraska and Southeast Community College in Lincoln or Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff.   At the same time, some aspiring Nebraska pharmacy technicians acquire skills online.  Popular accredited online colleges featuring certificate programs for pharmacy technicians include South Texas Vocational Technical Institute, Remington College, Kaplan Career Institute, Allied Schools and National American University, to name only a few.