South Dakota Pharmacy Tech School – SD

Educational Requirements of Pharmacy Technicians in South Dakota

South Dakota defines a pharmacy technician as a person who is registered with the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy who is either currently in a technician training program or who is presently employed by a licensed pharmacy within the state. The responsibilities of a pharmacy technician include helping the pharmacist with technical duties, all the while under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

South Dakota makes its pharmacy technicians become registered so that the Board of Pharmacy may identify and track them and take disciplinary action if necessary. Registration with the Board of Pharmacy in the state does not necessarily mean the person registered is competent to practice as a pharmacy tech. That is up to the licensed, supervising pharmacist to determine.

Certified, registered pharmacy technicians in South Dakota can make up to $43,000 annually, which is 67% higher than the salary for pharmacy technicians across the United States.

South Dakota pharmacy technician schools offer programs that usually last for at least 15 weeks for a minimum of 600 hours. Upon graduation, you will either receive a certificate or associate degree. Pharmacy tech training programs are available at trade schools, vocational schools, colleges, and universities, plus online.

The test for national certification only requires 2 hours of your time and is a multiple-choice test (regardless of whether you take the ExCPT or PTCB). This is a small investment for a large payoff: receiving Certified Pharmacy Technician (CphT) status upon passing the test. More employers in the state of South Dakota and, indeed, across the United States, are apt to hire a CphT than a pharmacy tech who is not nationally certified.

Pharmacy registrations in the state of South Dakota are due on October 31 of every year. Renewal applications are sent to each pharmacy approximately one month prior to expiration and can also be found at doh.sd.gov/Boards/pharmacy/Forms/TechnicianRenewal.pdf . Renewal fees are $25. While no continuing education is required to keep your registration in the state of South Dakota, it is required to maintain national certification. Both ExCPT and PTCB expect you to complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years. At least one of these hours must be in a course on pharmacy law.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Pharmacy Techs in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen and Watertown, South 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 Sanford USD Medical Center, Rapid City Regional Hospital, Avera Saint Luke's Hospital and Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.