Pharmacy Technician Schools in New Jersey

Pharmacy technicians work closely with pharmacists, assisting them with both clinical and administrative duties. In New Jersey, anybody can enter this profession as long as they have the right technical foundations.

As it happens, having the right technical foundations requires comprehensive training and certification. Below, we outline the steps New Jersey residents need to take to achieve these objectives. We begin with the educational, licensing, and certification requirements, then list relevant programs.

We also provide an analysis of the expected annual average salaries at various stages of a pharmacy tech career in New Jersey, along with the factors that inform these estimates.

How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in New Jersey

The steps below are needed to become a successful pharmacy technician in New Jersey.

Step 1: Meet the Basic Requirements

Pharmacy technicians in New Jersey start their careers by attending a training program. Depending on their chosen training destination, they may need a high school diploma.

In virtually all cases, a GED equivalent can be leveraged in place of a high school diploma.

Step 2: Get Technical Training

To become highly skilled and perform their duties at the required level, prospective pharmacy techs in New Jersey may attend a training program at an accredited institution. Here, they will learn prescription processing, inventory management, medication compounding, quality assurance, and administrative duties.

One upcoming section explores the best training programs for prospective pharmacy technicians in New Jersey.

Step 3: Practical Experience

Hands-on training equips new pharmacy technicians with the experience and confidence needed to succeed in their roles. This is usually achieved through an internship or an externship.

Here, candidates will be able to work with laboratory kits and industry-standard software systems. Most pharmacy technician internships typically last about 240 hours.

Step 4: Certification & Employment

Candidates who are properly trained can obtain certification as pharmacy technicians in New Jersey. Those who are certified can secure employment and continue advancing their careers.

The following guide analyzes the certification options and requirements to consider.

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Licensure & Certification Requirements

In New Jersey, new candidates must register with the state before they can begin practicing as professional pharmacy technicians. The agency in charge is the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy.

Candidates can complete their applications online after providing proof of approved education, a criminal background check, and meeting the age requirement of 18 years or older.

As for certification, the board recognizes both certified and non-certified professionals. However, certification is strongly encouraged because it also creates professional opportunities.

The Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential, administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, is the most popular credential in the field.

Top Pharmacy Technician Schools in New Jersey

Below are the top schools to attend as a future pharmacy tech in New Jersey.

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Salary & Career Outlook

A new pharmacy technician in New Jersey may start their career with an average annual salary of $29,691 to $38,957, according to Indeed. Those in the first category are the bottom earners, and those in the latter are the median earners.

The third category comprises the top 10% of earners, with an average annual salary of at least $51,114. To move from a lower to a higher earning bracket, candidates may focus on building experience, professional credentials, employer relationships, and specific locations within the state.

Currently, Springfield has the highest average annual salary for pharmacy technicians in New Jersey at $48,211. In the second and third places are Morristown and Newark, with annual average salaries of $47,538 and $40,379, respectively.