Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician in North Carolina

As of June 1st, 2012, the state of North Carolina displays 1,821 hospital and retail pharmacies among its local business listings.  According to demographic employment data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina pharmacies currently support well over eleven thousand pharmacy technicians.  Of these, about three thousand are technically unlicensed, although many are pharmacy assistants in the midst of Board certification, or experienced technicians overdue to renew their registrations with the state's Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).  Different states offer different sets of guidelines pertaining to the licensing and on-the-job activities of pharmacy technicians. 

North Carolina State Regulations for Pharmacy Technicians

Technicians Despite the fact that licensed pharmacists overwhelmingly favor licensed pharmacy technicians, the state of North Carolina does not require Board certification (licensing) as a condition of local employment for its pharmacy technicians.  Nevertheless, all North Carolina pharmacy technicians must register with the state Board of Pharmacy in order to be employed under licensed local pharmacists.  Registration requires the completion of a formal application.  The application must be submitted, along with a thirty dollar application fee, no later than thirty days following the completion of a Board-approved training program.  State regulations mandate that pharmacy managers must train new technicians within six months of the start date of employment.  Continuing education is only required to maintain certification for licensed pharmacy technicians. Applicants must renew their registrations each year no later than December 31st.  All fees associated with registration and renewal are the applicant's responsibility.    The on-site activities of pharmacy technicians in North Carolina are guided primarily by existing state and federal laws, in conjunction with the supervision of licensed pharmacists in charge. 

North Carolina Training Programs for Pharmacy Technicians Include:

North Carolina residents pursuing careers as pharmaceutical technicians can often acquire professional skills through enrollment at accredited local colleges.  Colleges in North Carolina that offer state-approved certificate programs for pharmacy technicians include University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, Durham Technical Community College in Durham and University of Phoenix, which maintains facilities in Charlotte and Raleigh.  On the other hand, some aspiring pharmacy technicians are trained on the job, while others acquire skills through various online educational options.  Popular accredited online colleges featuring professional training for pharmacy technicians include Everest Institute, Fortis Institute, Argosy University, All-State Career Health Division and Santa Barbara Business College, to name only a few.