As a pharmacy technician, you’ll directly impact patients’ health through your service at community and institutional pharmacies. Your primary responsibilities will include preparing medications for dispensing and guiding patients through the prescription process while maintaining the highest level of customer service. While a registered pharmacist will guide and closely monitor your actions, you should develop an eye for detail and effective communication skills. You’ll also learn to work independently to calculate dosages, provide service within the confines of state laws, and complete administrative procedures, such as maintaining customer records and managing inventory. The South Carolina Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacy technicians to register with the Board before providing services in nursing homes, hospitals, correctional facilities, community pharmacies and other licensed facilities.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in South Carolina
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South Carolina Pharmacy Technician Requirements
License Requirement
In South Carolina, it is unlawful for pharmacy technicians, not registered with the Board of Pharmacy, to perform the functions of a registered technician at licensed pharmacies. Therefore, you must meet all the requirements for licensure and receive confirmation of a successful registration from the Board before you begin offering pharmacy technician services for compensation. Pharmacy technician students enrolled in accredited training programs can work in the pharmacy, under the direction of a licensed pharmacist, for the purposes of practical training. The pharmacy technician student must wear proper identification indicating his or her student status. Registered pharmacy technicians must display their status in the pharmacy outlet where they’re employed – it should be displayed in a place that’s easily observed by the public.
The Board will approve your application for state registration when you provide the following:
- A completed pharmacy technician registration application
- Verification of Lawful Presence
- Copy of driver’s license, state-issued ID or passport and a copy of social security card
Once the Board approves your application for registration, it is your responsibility to complete the continuing pharmacy education requirements and report your changes in employment to the board to maintain state registration.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be at least 18 years old to register as a pharmacy technician in South Carolina.
Education Requirement
South Carolina’s Code of Law requires prospective pharmacy technicians to possess a high school diploma before applying for Board registration. The PTCB or ExCPT, another requirement for state certification, also requests proof of high school education from all applicants. You can provide evidence of completing high school using the following documents:
- A certified copy of your high school transcript with your date of graduation, or
- A certified copy of your GED transcript
Other Requirements
As part of your preparation for the state certification, you must complete a minimum of one thousand hours of experiential training in a retail or hospital pharmacy. During the experiential training period, you will provide services under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The PTCB and ExCPT require candidates to pass a criminal background check as a requirement for certification. Felonies and misdemeanors could affect your chances of certification and your eventual registration with the SC Board of Pharmacy.
The Pharmacy Technician Program
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In order to save time, effort and money, you should enroll in ASHP accredited programs only. South Carolina’s Code of Law requires pharmacy technicians to complete a formal academic training program as a prerequisite to registration. While there are numerous programs across the state recruiting new students, the Board approves programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) only. A list of those programs is available below. Completion of ASHP accredited programs leads to a diploma or certificate after students learn essential topics, such as pharmacy calculations, pharmacy operations, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology and prescription drugs. Students also learn pharmacy law and ethics, drug distribution systems, medical terminology, aseptic technique, inventory control, communications, and partake in experiential training at a community or hospital pharmacy.
Duration and Cost
Tuition at ASHP accredited pharmacy technician programs in South Carolina cost an average of $3,700. Apart from tuition, prospective students must budget for additional expenses, such as textbooks, workbooks, registration fees, national certification, uniform, background check, immunization, and insurance. On average, full-time students can complete training in four months while part-time students can expect to complete the classroom training requirements and externship in 6 to 8 months.
National Exams
Pharmacy technicians applying for Board certification in South Carolina must be certified by the PTCB or the ExCPT.
The national Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE), governed by the PTCB, designates the CPhT title to successful candidates who demonstrate their competency to provide pharmacy technician services. Before applying for the 90-question multiple-choice exam at testing centers across South Carolina, you must:
- Possess a high school diploma
- Pass a criminal background check with no felony convictions
- Have no denial or suspension of a pharmacy technician license in any state.
Apply for the test online and pay the $129 application fee using a credit card or check. The Board will issue a paper application under extreme circumstances; you can request the paper application by writing the Board and providing details of your disability or hardship. Once the Board approves the application, you’re eligible to schedule a date for the PTCE exam within the 90-day authorization period.
The ICPT designs and develops the ExCPT exam. To be eligible to take the ExCPT, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have completed a training program or have at least 12 months of pharmacy-related experience – completed within 36 months of the application date
- Take and pass the ExCPT exam
- Pay the exam fee of $125
Completion of an ASHP-accredited program will confirm your eligibility to take a national exam and will give you the confidence to succeed.
Acquiring Your State License
Application for Pharmacy Technician Registration
Submit your application for Board registration only after you’ve met all the requirements. The Board will verify your information and process the application within 30 days. They’ll mail your registration and wallet card within 3-4 weeks of issue. Following are the steps for state licensure.
- Complete the Pharmacy Technician Registration Application – online or using the paper form
- Pay the non-refundable application/registration fee of $56
- Complete the Verification of Lawful Presence
- Provide copies of your social security card and your driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport or military ID
- Once the Board approves your application, you must notify them in writing (within 10 days) when you begin or change employment
Registrations are valid from July 1 through June 30th each year.
State Certification Requirements for Pharmacy Technicians
Currently registered pharmacy technicians may apply for state certification after meeting the outlined requirements. No application or fee is required for state certification.
- Must be currently registered as an S.C. Pharmacy Technician
- Must have a high school diploma or final transcript and/or GED
- Must have passed the National exam for either PTCB or ExCPT – PTCB or NHA ExCPT certificate required
- Must have completed a pharmacy technician training program accredited by the ASHP and/or recognized by PTCB –
- Must have completed 1,000 hours of practice in a pharmacy under a licensed pharmacist – provide Affidavit of Experience. Note: In cases where the experience hours were obtained out-of-state, the Pharmacist of the pharmacy must submit a letter on company letterhead verifying the total amount of work experience hours stating the name of the pharmacy, address, and permit number, name of pharmacist and license number, and time period that the work experience was obtained.
Your registration will be upgraded to show State-Certified Pharmacy Technician once all documents are received and verified.
Renewal
Once administered, your registration will remain valid until June thirtieth, and you must renew annually. The Board of Pharmacy will send out a renewal card 45 days before the expiration. For this reason, it is crucial that you maintain an accurate address with the Board. If your address changes, you should fill out a change of name/address form and submit to the board with the accompanying documents. Failure to renew your registration before July first will cause your registration to lapse, and you must immediately cease working as a pharmacy technician.
Lapsed Pharmacy Technician Registration Application
Pharmacy technicians whose registration lapsed within the last year are required to submit the following to renew a lapsed registration:
- A completed Lapsed Pharmacy Technician Registration Application
- Check or money order in the amount of $31 (non-refundable) payable to LLR Board of Pharmacy
- Copy of valid driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport or military ID
- Copy of social security card
- Notarized verification of lawful presence
- Ten hours of continuing education certificates – CE hours from the past year may be submitted
- State Certified Pharmacy Technicians must attach a copy of their current national pharmacy technician certificate for PTCB or ExCPT
Pharmacy Technician Registration Reinstatement Application
Pharmacy technicians whose registration is lapsed two years or more are required to submit the following to renew their registration
- A completed Lapsed Pharmacy Technician Registration Reinstatement Application
- Check or money order in the amount of $56 (non-refundable) payable to LLR Board of Pharmacy
- Copy of valid driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport or military ID
- Copy of social security card
- Notarized verification of lawful presence
- Twenty hours of continuing education certificates – CE hours from the past two years may be submitted
- State Certified Pharmacy Technicians must attach a copy of current national pharmacy technician certificate for PTCB or ExCPT
Transfers
As an out-of-state pharmacy technician, you can apply to the Board of Pharmacy to transfer your registration to South Carolina if the requirements for certification in your home state are equivalent to the registration requirements in South Carolina. The Board will request a criminal background check report and proof of PTCB certification with the application for registration.
South Carolina State Board of Pharmacy
Synergy Business Park, Kingstree Building
110 Centerview Drive, Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29210
Telephone: 803-896-4300
Fax: 803-896-4596
Pharmacy Technician Programs in South Carolina
Aiken, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Aiken Technical College
P.O. Box 696
Aiken, SC 29802
(803) 508-7489
Charleston, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Trident Technical College
P.O. Box 118067
7000 Rivers Avenue
Charleston, SC 29423-8067
(843) 574-6481
Columbia, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Midlands Technical College
P.O. Box 2408
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 822-3572
Remington College – Columbia
607 Bush River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 214-9000
Palmetto School
7001 St Andrews Rd,
Columbia, SC 29212
803-781-0023
Greenville, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Greenville Technical College
PO Box 5616 Ms 3011
Greenville, SC 29606
(864) 848-2981
Greenwood, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Piedmont Technical College
620 North Emerald Road
Greenwood, SC 29648
864-941-8527
Myrtle Beach, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
743 Hemlock Avenue
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 477-2117
North Charleston, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Southeastern College
4600 Goer Drive
Suite 105
North Charleston, SC 29406
(317) 457-6527
Orangeburg, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
3250 St. Matthews Road
Orangeburg, SC 29118
803.536.0311
Pendleton, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Tri-County Technical College
7900 Hwy 76, P.O. Box 587
Pendleton, SC 29670
(864) 646-1334
Spartanburg, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Spartanburg Community College
P.O. Box 4386
Spartanburg SC 29305
864-592-4600
Sumter, SC Pharmacy Technician training programs:
Central Carolina Technical College
506 North Guignard Drive
Sumter, SC 29150
(803) 778-6621