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Those who pay attention to details and like to help people can consider a career as a pharmacy technician.
If you’re one of them and want to know more about this job in Louisiana, read on!
Article Table of Contents
Job Responsibilities for a Pharmacy Technician
These professionals work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.
Their main responsibilities are:
- Dispensing prescriptions
- Measuring and mixing the medication
- Counting pills
- Printing prescription labels
- Performing administrative work
License and Certification Requirements
Most states don’t require national certification for pharmacy technicians, as registration with the local Board is enough.
In Louisiana, working as a pharmacy tech is a more complicated process that starts with registering with the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician candidate.
This is actually a training, or apprenticeship, period that lasts for 2 years.
The other requirements are:
- Age over 18
- Fill out the application form
- Pay the application fee -$25
- Pass a background check
- Proof of being enrolled in a training program
- Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) or he Examination for Certification as Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
The PTCE exam is offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
The ExCPT exam is offered by the National Health career Association (NHA).
At the end of the training, after you pass one of the exams, you’ll be allowed to apply to become a pharmacy technician.
This application is to obtain the certification, and there’s a fee of $100 associated with this process.
The certification has to be renewed every year before the end of June, for a $50 fee, and only after completing 10 hours of continuing education.
Pharmacy Tech Training Programs
As mentioned, in Louisiana, you cannot become a pharmacy tech without formal training.
The training can be completed through an accredited program offered by one of the colleges in this state.
You need to check out the enrolling requirements of each school as not all of them are the same.
For instance, some schools will require a minimum GPA of 2.0, while others will require high school transcripts, or passing an interview and typing test.
Most training programs last for under 2 years, and many are as short as 8 months.
Day and evening classes are available at some of these institutions as well, though some of them offer only day, full-time classroom education.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ayers Career College | 8820 Jewella Ave, Shreveport, Louisiana 71118 |
| Bossier Parish Community College | 6220 East Texas, Bossier City, Louisiana 71111-6922 |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | 4311 South MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302-3137 |
| Delgado Community College | 615 City Park Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119 |
| Healthcare Training Institute | 322 Williams Boulevard, Kenner, Louisiana 70062-7630 |
| Infinity College | 117 West Pinhook Road, Lafayette, LA 70501 |
| Louisiana State University | 8100 Hwy 71 South, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302-9121 |
| Northshore Technical Community College | 1710 Sullivan Dr, Bogalusa, Louisiana 70427 |
| Remington College | 10551 Coursey Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816 |
| Remington College | 303 Rue Louis XIV, Lafayette, Louisiana 70508 |
| Remington College | 2106 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 7228 England Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana 71301 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 1227 Grand Calliou Road, Houma, Louisiana 70363 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 3605 Ambassador Caffery, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 2827 4th Avenue, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601-7887 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 6660 Riverside Drive, Metairie, LA 70003 |
| Unitech Training Academy | 111 Crosley Street Suite 4, West Monroe, Louisiana 71291 |
The coursework may include:
- Humanities electives,
- Psychology,
- College algebra,
- Specific science electives
It’s also common for these schools to offer training and certification for first aid and CPR.
Salary
In Louisiana, the factors influencing the salary the most are the working hours, experience, and the type of facility one works for.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $34,800 |
| Baton Rouge | $32,594 |
| Shreveport | $32,229 |
| Metairie | $34,800 |
| Lafayette | $32,207 |
| Lake Charles | $31,766 |
| Bossier City | $32,229 |
| Kenner | $34,781 |
| Alexandria | $34,252 |
| Houma | $34,520 |
Regional Salary in Louisiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 250 | $36,650 | $17.62 | $47,050 | $29,570 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,240 | $38,710 | $18.61 | $48,010 | $28,900 |
| Hammond, LA | 170 | $36,440 | $17.52 | $46,970 | $28,740 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 270 | $36,500 | $17.55 | $45,340 | $29,040 |
| Lafayette, LA | 690 | $37,750 | $18.15 | $47,390 | $29,300 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 270 | $36,750 | $17.67 | $46,120 | $28,960 |
| Monroe, LA | 280 | $35,410 | $17.02 | $45,980 | $28,790 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,730 | $37,410 | $17.99 | $46,490 | $28,590 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 660 | $38,670 | $18.59 | $47,880 | $29,310 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Extra Information
When choosing a school is important to check out the type of hands-on training they offer.
It’s not very common to gain experience through a Visual Scripts software like at Unitech Training Academy.
Some institutions offer internships with local pharmacies.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician Schools by State