Pharmacy Technician Schools in South Dakota

The duties of a pharmacy technician in South Dakota encompass both clinical and administrative duties. They play critical roles in many work environments, ensuring customers are attended to and records are well maintained.

Prospective pharmacy technicians can enter the field by following the guide below. They will be able to focus on what they need to, including which training programs to attend, how to prepare for licensing and certification, and which institutions offer excellent programs.

The guide also includes an analysis of the annual average salaries for pharmacy technicians in South Dakota.

How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in South Dakota

The following steps outline how to launch a career as a pharmacy technician in South Dakota.

Soft Skills & High School Requirements

Prospective pharmacy technicians in South Dakota need a high school diploma or a GED to be admitted to most top programs. They also need soft skills such as computer literacy, organizational and planning skills, interpersonal skills, and effective communication skills to succeed on the job.

Academic Programs

Academic programs are among the most popular ways to launch a career as a pharmacy technician in South Dakota. These programs provide classroom instructions covering technical topics.

They can take place online or in-person. Some also combine both in a hybrid approach.

Candidates can choose their training destination based on duration and academic awards. Popular alternatives include 1-year or less certificate programs and 2-year associate degree programs.

On-the-Job Programs

Candidates can also become successful pharmacy technicians by choosing programs that offer on-the-job training. However, the most popular approach is to combine academic training with on-the-job training.

This is achieved through an internship or externship, typically toward the end of an academic program.

Job Placement

Finally, individuals who have completed all of the above steps can consider the education and licensing requirements below before securing a full-time professional pharmacy technician position. They can work in a range of environments, including retail pharmacies, long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, and more.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Learn how to become a sterile processing technician in South Dakota

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The two major credentialing organizations for pharmacy technicians in South Dakota and nationwide are the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the National Healthcareer Association. Both organizations offer the Certified Pharmacy Technician credential, which requires students to pass a certification exam.

Only individuals who have completed an approved program or built the right level of experience on the job can qualify for the credentialing exams.

For licensing, pharmacy technicians in South Dakota need to register with the South Dakota Department of Health. They must be at least 16 years old to do so.

Registration costs around $25.

Applicants must also have a high school diploma or GED.

Top Pharmacy Technician Schools in South Dakota

Below are the top training programs for prospective pharmacy technicians in South Dakota.

Explore pharmacy technician schools in South Dakota by city:

• Pharmacy technician schools in Sioux Falls

Salary & Career Outlook

The average annual salary for a pharmacy technician in South Dakota varies by location. Data revealed the following places to have the highest averages across the state:

• Pierre, with an annual average salary of $43,916;
• Rapid City, with an annual average salary of $43,504;
• Mitchell, with an annual average salary of $43,239;
• Yankton, with an annual average salary of $42,903.

The average annual salary for a pharmacy technician in South Dakota also depends on experience level, work environment, specialty, and professional credentials. All of these work together to separate candidates into three categories: top, bottom, and average.

Those in the top category earn an annual average salary of $54,608, while those in the bottom category earn $30,812. In the median category, the expected annual salary is $41,020, according to Indeed.