| While the licensed pharmacist must possess a | | | | must seek certification in order to qualify for |
| pharmacy doctoral degree (PharmD) and a valid | | | | employment. Aspiring assistants must possess a |
| license, pharmacy certification is not required; | | | | minimum of an associate degree in a related field, and |
| however, the Doctor of Pharmacy may seek | | | | be able to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification |
| certificates in one or more specialties of | | | | Board National Exam to become certified pharmacy |
| pharmaceutical medicine, such as nuclear pharmacy, | | | | technicians. |
| to enhance an existing career. Pharmacy technicians | | | | Before embarking on any course promising |
| (also known as certified pharmacy assistants), on the | | | | certification, it is imperative that the student engage |
| other hand, are definitely required to be certified in | | | | in a fact-finding mission. Talk to individual colleges and |
| order to work alongside the pharmacist. | | | | inquire if they are providing pharmacy technician |
| Before seeking pharmacy certification, it is important | | | | training, or if they are offering certificates in a |
| to understand the different credentials required of | | | | pharmaceutical specialty for practicing pharmacists. |
| practicing pharmacists vs. those required of certified | | | | Now that you know a bit about Pharmacy |
| pharmacy technicians. Across the US, every state | | | | Certification, we urge you to contact individual |
| requires pharmacists to have successfully graduated | | | | schools, colleges and universities on our website, and |
| from a college of pharmacy that is accredited by the | | | | ask all the right questions to find the pharmacy |
| Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), | | | | training you seek. |
| and to have passed one or more exams administered | | | | DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and |
| by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy | | | | may or may not reflect specific practices, courses |
| (depending on the state). The working pharmacist | | | | and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular |
| may then proceed to apply for employment in any | | | | school(s) that is or is not advertised on |
| pharmacy in the US. Certification is required only if | | | | Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by Media Positive |
| the pharmacist wishes to dispense specifically | | | | Communications, Inc. |
| regulated pharmaceuticals that are not covered in | | | | Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an |
| traditional pharmacy training, such as psychiatric, | | | | ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in |
| oncology, nuclear, or nutritional support pharmacy. | | | | its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL |
| Those who assist pharmacists in everyday routine | | | | links remain intact and active. |
| tasks are known as pharmacy technicians, and they | | | | |