Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Wyoming

As of June 1st, 2012, the state of Wyoming is home to more than a hundred hospital and retail pharmacies.  Based on demographic employment reports compiled by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacies in Wyoming currently support about five hundred licensed, Board certified pharmacy technicians.  A pharmacy technician is a skilled healthcare professional who works as an assistant to a licensed pharmacist.  The on-the-job activities of pharmacy technicians typically involve the preparation and handling of prescription drugs and other federally controlled substances.  Therefore, various federal and state-specific regulations will apply.  Guidelines pertaining to the employment of pharmacy technicians vary from state to state. 

Wyoming State Regulations for Pharmacy Technicians

Licensed pharmacists insist on licensed technicians primarily because the activities of unlicensed assistants are somewhat restricted by applicable laws.  For instance, federal law mandates that only licensed technicians can prepare prescriptions, contact doctors to obtain refill authorization and enter patient information onto official records.  For another example, according to state law, the maximum allowable ratio of pharmacy technicians to pharmacists is three to one (3:1).  State law also requires that all pharmacy technicians wear name badges.
Wyoming is one of fourteen states that require all locally employed pharmacy technicians to hold valid, up-to-date, state-approved licenses.  All Wyoming pharmacy technicians must formally register with the Wyoming Board of Pharmacy in order to receive training and qualify for Board certification.  A licensed pharmacy technician in Wyoming must be at least eighteen years of age with at least a high school level education.  Applicants must also be able to produce a clean criminal background check with no drug felonies.  Licenses expire on the last day of each year.  Annual renewal is mandatory.  Continuing education of six hours per year is required to maintain certification. 

Wyoming Training Programs for Pharmacy Technicians Include:

Wyoming residents who are interested in pursuing local employment as licensed pharmacy technicians can often acquire professional skills by attending accredited local colleges.  Schools in the state of Wyoming that offer State Board approved certificate programs for pharmacy technicians include the Institute of Business and Medical Careers and the University of Phoenix, both located in Cheyenne.
At the same rate, many aspiring pharmacy technicians living in Wyoming prefer to acquire skills and certificates online.  Popular accredited online colleges for pharmacy technicians include UEI College, Vatterott College, YTI Institute, Virginia College and Anthem College, to name only a few.