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North Dakota Pharmacy Tech School – ND
Published: February 24th, 2010
Education Required of Pharmacy Technicians in North Dakota
A pharmacy technician in the state of North Dakota is defined as a person registered by the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy who is employed by a pharmacy and is supervised by a pharmacist-in-charge. Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists with technical functions, including helping provide medication and other health care products, helping to prepare medications, compounding products, processing prescriptions, and handling administrative duties and computer entry. They work in research institutions, retail pharmacies, hospitals, home health care pharmacies, manufacturers, and other industrial settings within North Dakota.
Programs through North Dakota Pharmacy technician schools can span one year, or about 40 credits, which commonly earns the student a Certificate; or two years, about 64 credits, earning the receiver an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. The school you choose should be approved and accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), or by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Online training is a fabulous option in North Dakota given that conventional campus-based institutions offering these programs are few and far between. As a prerequisite to entry into most pharmacy tech training programs, federal and state criminal background checks will be performed. Offered at trade schools, vocational schools, community colleges, and online, courses commonly include medical terminology and drug products, community and institutional practice, inventory management and record-keeping, sterile product preparation, and manufacturing. Many schools also require courses in writing, speech, psychology, and communications, to help pharmacy techs with customer service skills. Some schools automatically register students with the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy upon graduation, making it easier for pharmacy techs to take the national certification test and become employed right out of school.
To renew registration as a pharmacy tech in North Dakota, you must complete at least 10 hours of approved continuing education annually. You must also renew your certificate with the PTCB by completing 20 hours in relevant topics every two years.
Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Pharmacy Techs in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot, North Dakota may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the St. Alexius Medical Center, Jamestown Hospital, Dakota Clinic and Medcenter One Jamestown.