Finding Pharmacy Technician jobs in Florida shouldn’t be too difficult, if individuals meet certain requirements established by the Florida State Board of Pharmacy.
To work in any pharmacy in Florida, an individual must first register with the State Board of Pharmacy. Prior to Jan 1, 2011, an individual could apply for registration by:
- having 1500 hours of work experience or
- completing a state recognized Pharmacy Technician education program, or
- attaining certification by either the PTCB or other national certification agency
Effective Jan 1, 2011, individuals who want to apply for any Pharmacy Technician jobs in Florida must now complete a state approved Pharmacy Technician program. The course needs to be a minimum of 160 hours and must be completed within 6 months. When you register, you’ll need to show proof of your training by submitting a copy of your certificate of completion with your application.
I’ve been working as a Pharmacy Technician in Illinois for almost a year? I’m planning to move to Florida? Will getting certified help me get a job?
These new regulations are a lot tougher than most states and may pose a problem for any certified Pharmacy Technician who is planning to work in Florida. Many industrious Pharmacy techs have attained national certification by studying on their own and sitting for the exam. They should be commended for their initiative and perseverance. Unfortunately, taking the certification exam without formal training will not help you land one of the many Pharmacy Technician jobs in Florida.
Also, individuals who have taken any of the online courses that prepare students to take the certification exam are not going to be able to use this to work in Florida’s pharmacies, unless the course was an approved pharmacy tech training program.
So What Constitutes a State Approved Pharmacy Technician Program in Florida?
According to Florida regulation (64B16-26.351, F.A.C), a state approved Pharmacy Technician training program is any program accredited on or before Jan. 1, 2011 by either the:
- American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
- Florida’s Commission for Independent Education (CIE)
- Training provided by any branch of the U.S. military
- Council on Occupational Education(COE)
Florida regulations also stipulate that some training programs offered by specific employers will satisfy the requirements for approved training.
A list of those employers within Florida can also be found on the Board’s website.
In the Professions box choose Pharmacy Technician Training Program from the drop down menu, choose your County and click on ‘Find Provider’. This will show a list of approved employer training programs for your county.
To re-emphasize, if you are looking to work in Florida, be aware that most online, for-profit schools that are selling a Pharmacy Technician certification program are probably not accredited by the ASHP. You need to do your research and make sure before you sign up for any Pharmacy Technician course that it is accredited by the ASHP. The ASHP website provides a list of schools by State that are accredited.
A good place to begin your search for Pharmacy Technician jobs in Florida will be online. Start by setting up alerts on job search engines like Career Builder, Indeed and Simply Hired. Job alerts will let you know when Pharmacy Technician jobs in Florida become available. You can also check the websites of local hospitals, major retail drug stores, insurance companies and craigslist for job postings. If the school you attended has a job placement department, let them know you’re looking and available for an interview. Don’t forget to ask friends and family members if they work in the healthcare industry. Finally, if there is a local Pharmacy technician association, be sure to join and start networking.
Working as a Pharmacy Technician is a challenging, but very rewarding career. Even though many Pharmacy Technician jobs in Florida are in retail pharmacies, there are many other job opportunities available. The field is always expanding. Your career options will expand if you invest in yourself and your education.
Good luck in your job search!
I thank GOD for seeing this site. I also thank GOD for whoever decided to share this valuable information with the internet for all to see. I just moved to Florida from Ky. I have an associates in science and I just became nationally certified as a pharmacy tech last year. Since i’ve been in Florida i’ve had the hardest time trying get hired as a pharmacy technician and I still am but GOD always makes a way when you stay humble and keep him first. I dont have much retail experience so i’ve been trying to get some hands on experience before i try to go back to school and become a pharmacist. From reading the information given above, I’ve been on the right track but now i have more information that i didn’t have before and again i just thank GOD for letting me run across this site because this information is extremely helpful. To the person or people who decided to share this information to pharmacy techs who live in Florida who are having a difficult time trying to obtain a pharmacy technician position, may GOD forever keep you and bless you. =)
I’m happy the information was useful to you. Good luck in your job search. Your persistence will pay off soon I’m sure : ) ~ JC
Wonderful web site. Plenty of useful info here. I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks for your sweat!