Missouri Pharmacy Tech Schools & Certification

Pharmacy technicians or PTs in Missouri prepare prescription medication orders. They receive prescription requests via telephone, electronic transmission, or written on prescription pads. These workers organize drug inventory, mix compounds, and obtain refill authorization.

Missouri pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. They perform the following duties:

• Fill and label bottles with prescribed medications
• Provide information on drugs to patients for bulk medications
• Accept payments from customers
• Resolve customer complaints
• Request refill authorizations
• Keep records of stock
• Verify insurance coverage

Missouri Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements

The qualifications needed to become a PT in Missouri are much more lenient than in many other states. This lowers the entry barriers in this profession, allowing many individuals to enter the medical field, perhaps as a stepping stone to getting additional education and becoming a pharmacist or other medical professional with a higher salary.

Here is what you need to know about Missouri pharmacy technicians:

• Missouri pharmacy technicians are regulated.
• Unlike some other states, pharmacy technicians in Missouri don't have to get a certification.
• State Board of Pharmacy in Missouri does require a license to practice.
• The State Board of Pharmacy doesn't require technicians to pass any of the national exams.
• PTs have to register with the state before they begin their employment with a pharmacy.

Here are the general requirements to become a licensed pharmacy technician in Missouri:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• High school diploma or GED required
• Fingerprinting required for criminal background check
• Candidates must know state laws regarding the dispensation of medication to patients
• 2 x 2-inch passport photo submitted with notarized license application
• Renewal fee: $35.00
• Annual renewal with the State Board of Pharmacy
• No continuing education is required
• No training is required

Missouri Pharmacy Technician Careers & Employment Outlook

There is a moderate demand for pharmacy technicians, with a 4% growth rate projected through 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That matches the average for all jobs in the country.

With an aging population, an increased demand for prescription medications will provide job security for individuals in the Pharmaceutical industry, including pharmacy technicians. The U.S. average salary for a pharmacy technician is $33,950 per year or $16.32 per hour.

In Missouri, pharmacy technicians make an annual salary of $32,790, which equates to an hourly rate of $15.76. At the low end of the scale, the bottom 10% of pharmacy technicians in MO make $21,550. Top earners in this field earn $45,700 while 50% of technicians average $31,230 in Missouri.

In the Southeast Missouri non-metropolitan area, there is a concentration of pharmacy technicians who make an average annual salary of $29,540 or $14.20 per hour.

Missouri Schools That Offer Pharmacy Technician Training Programs