Pharmacy technicians work directly under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Some duties a pharmacist is expected to perform are as follows:
To apply for pharmacy technician schools in Illinois, you must have a high school diploma or GED, no prior drug convictions, and have English proficiency. The following schools offer pharmacy technician training in Illinois:
When you enroll in pharmacy technician schools in Illinois, you will be given in-class and hands-on training that prepares you for work in the pharmacy. The bulk of education will be done in class, but you can expect to spend several days (or weeks) performing an externship too. Some courses you are likely to encounter include:
During the externship training, you will work as a pharmacy technician under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
Pharmacy technicians are regulated by the State Board of Pharmacy in Illinois. Certification is not required to practice as a pharmacy technician, however you must be certified for two years to be licensed as a technician. The following certification exams are required to license:
A technician may still assist and work in a pharmacy for up to 60 days while waiting for their licensing application to be approved. They must be able to show proof of application and keep a copy at the pharmacy where they are employed during their work hours. Requirements to become a licensed pharmacy technician include:
Pharmacy technicians will then renew their license once a year. Licenses expire on March 31st of every year (regardless when they were issued).
Listed below are metro areas ranked by the popularity of jobs for Pharmacy Technicians relative to the population of the city. Salary data was obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
Metro Area | Jobs | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Champaign-Urbana | 290 | $31,930 |
Kankakee | 180 | $29,280 |
Rockford | 580 | $29,610 |
Bloomington | 220 | $30,830 |
Peoria | 550 | $33,610 |
Danville | 70 | $34,920 |
Decatur | 190 | $30,280 |
Carbondale-Marion | 230 | $32,830 |
Springfield | 340 | $30,830 |
Sources: