Iowa Pharmacy Tech Schools & Certification

Pharmacy technicians work under pharmacists providing vital service to customers needing prescription medications. With a growing need for healthcare, Iowa is a great state to get started as a pharmacy technician. Each state in the U.S. sets its own rules and requirements for pharmacy technician certification in line with Federal law. This means that while laws between different states are similar, they are not always identical. There are specific licensing and certification requirements in Iowa that an applicant must fulfill to work as a pharmacy technician. Read on to learn more.

Iowa Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements

According to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, the state grants pharmacy technician licenses assuming the applicant fulfills the following criteria:

• Applicant must be 18 years old or older. For applicants under 18, only the qualified pharmacist at the workplace may submit the details in support of your application
• You have graduated with a high school diploma or acquired a GED
• You have completed an accredited study program and passed the PTCB; you are permitted to apply before passing these exams as a technician-in-training
• A criminal background check is mandatory; you must submit personal details to ensure you have no convictions that ban you from working in an environment handling controlled substances
• A $40 application fee is required, payable at the time of application. You may pay by check, credit, or debit card and must apply within 30 days of hire. After 30 days, you must pay an additional $40 penalty (total cost $80)
• Expired licenses are subject to a simple renewal request; the applicant should start 2 months before expiration

Special note 1: The criminal background check is not carried out before the state has received the application fee and application details.

Special note 2: Transfers from other states are permissible only where Iowa has a reciprocal arrangement.

Special note 3: Interns are exempt from these criteria

Iowa Pharmacy Technician Careers & Employment Outlook

According to the most recent report (2019) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are approximately 4,300 pharmacy technicians in Iowa. People working in this role can expect pay rates of $15.91 (median average) $16.07 (mean average) and $33,430. Glassdoor reports that entry-level pay is around $23,477 on average.

Most pharmacy technicians (51%) will work in pharmacies and drug stores across the state, according to BLS data from 2019. A further 17% will find employment in hospitals and clinics in Iowa. Some work (9%) is available in grocery store pharmacies.

Most pharmacies operate on a 24/7 schedule and pharmacy technicians in Iowa can expect to work evenings, weekends, and night shifts. This varies depending on the location; in supermarkets, you may work only inside of normal operating hours.

Nationally, BLS employment outlook predicts a 4% increase between 2019 and 2029. However, state records show a higher than average requirement in Iowa, averaging around 12%. Some states and areas have higher than average citizen ages; where there are more elderly people, more prescription medicines are required.

Iowa Schools That Offer Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

Cedar Rapids, IA

Council Bluffs, IA

Marshalltown, IA

Ottumwa, IA

Sheldon, IA

Sioux City, IA

Waterloo, IA