Illinois Pharmacy Tech Schools & Certification
Opting to become a pharmacy technician in Illinois provides you with a range of advantages. You’ll be able to work in the fast-growing healthcare field while choosing either a patient-facing role or one that is more in the background. In addition to significant advancement opportunities, you’ll also be able to choose from many different workplace environment options.
Illinois Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements
In Illinois, there are a number of requirements you must meet in order to become a pharmacy technician. These include the following:
- Be at least 16 years of age
- Must hold a high school diploma or the equivalent, or you must be completing such a degree
- Request registration as a pharmacy technician by submitting a written application to the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy
- Pay the non-refundable registration fee
- Be a graduate of a pharmacy technician training program or provide documents from the state-licensed pharmacist who is in charge of training you
- Provide satisfactory results from either the ExCPT or PTCE certification exam
The Illinois State Board of Pharmacy has approved two certification exams: the PTCE and the ExCPT. The ICPT offers the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) while the PTCB offers the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
- PTCE is comprised of 90 questions with multiple choice answers. Test takers are allowed 1 hour and 50 minutes in order to complete the exam.
- ExCPT consists of 100 questions along with 20 pretest questions. The exam must be completed within 2 hours and 10 minutes in one continuous session at an approved testing center.
Illinois Pharmacy Technician Careers & Employment Outlook
Illinois pharmacy technician careers provide diverse opportunities for motivated employees. From retail pharmacies with a national presence and private hospitals to government agencies and community-based organizations, pharmacy technicians will also discover that they have room for advancement.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that pharmacy technicians will experience a job outlook that increases about four percent from 2019 through 2029. With more than 422,000 jobs in 2019, the agency expects the industry to add an additional 15,200 jobs during that decade.
For 2019, the median pay for pharmacy technicians was nearly $34,000 yearly. For those positions that pay an hourly wage instead, the median was $16.32 per hour.
According to the BLS, Illinois is the state with the fourth-highest level of employment when it comes to pharmacy technicians. About 21,090 people were employed within the industry with a mean annual wage of $33,590. More specifically regarding the Illinois region, the metro area comprised of Chicago, Naperville, IN and Elgin, WI has the second-highest level of employment for pharmacy technicians.
Obtaining certification as an Illinois pharmacy technician provides innumerable advantages for students. Not only will you have many employment opportunities, but you’ll also be well-compensated for your efforts as you perform a valuable service. In addition, you’ll discover that advancement potential and financial stability is built into this career.
Illinois Schools That Offer Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
School | Location | Contact |
---|---|---|
301 Avenue of the Cities East Moline, IL 61244 | (309) 796-8223 | |
226 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 553-2500 | |
226 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 553-2500 | |
226 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 553-2500 | |
226 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 553-2500 | |
226 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 553-2500 | |
226 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 553-2500 | |
226 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 553-2500 | |
425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 | (630) 942-2800 | |
19351 W. Washington St. Grayslake, IL 60030 | (847) 543-2000 | |
1 N State St #400 Chicago, IL 60602 | (773) 577-8100 | |
2000 E Main St Danville, IL 61832 | (217) 443-3222 | |
1200 West Algonquin Road Palatine, IL 60067 | (847) 925-6000 | |
1500 West Raab Road Normal, IL 61761 | (309) 268-8000 | |
5407 N University St Peoria, IL 61614 | (309) 999-4550 | |
2 Frontier Dr Fairfield, IL 62837 | (618) 842-3711 | |
11220 IL-1 Robinson, IL 62454 | (618) 544-8657 | |
305 N West St Olney, IL 62450 | (618) 395-7777 | |
2200 College Dr Mt Carmel, IL 62863 | (618) 262-8641 | |
700 Logan College Dr Carterville, IL 62918 | (618) 985-2828 | |
1301 South 48th Street Quincy, IL 62305 | (217) 224-6500 | |
1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431 | (815) 729-9020 | |
27210 College Road Centralia, IL 62801 | (618) 545-3000 | |
21193 Malta Rd Malta, IL 60150 | (815) 825-2086 | |
5250 Shepherd Rd. Springfield, IL 62794 | (217) 786-2200 | |
8900 US Hwy 14 Crystal Lake, IL 60012 | (815) 455-3700 | |
411 W Northmoor Rd Peoria, IL 61614 | (309) 692-4092 | |
3620 Avenue of the Cities Moline, IL 61265 | (888) 755-3326 | |
280 High Point Ln East Peoria, IL 61611 | (309) 427-2750 | |
2731 Farmers Market Rd Springfield, IL 62707 | (217) 527-8324 | |
20 N Upper Wacker Dr #3800 Chicago, IL 60606 | (312) 236-9000 | |
9000 W. College Pkwy. Palos Hills, IL 60465 | (708) 974-4300 | |
3801 S Central Ave Cicero, IL 60804 | (708) 656-8000 | |
5500 St Louis Ave Chicago, IL 60625 | (773) 583-4050 | |
5999 New Wilke Rd Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 | (847) 290-6425 | |
1600 E Golf Rd Des Plaines, IL 60016 | (847) 635-1600 | |
2400 W Bradley Ave Champaign, IL 61821 | (217) 351-2200 | |
202 S Halsted St Chicago Heights, IL 60411 | (708) 709-3500 | |
1 College Park Decatur, IL 62521 | (217) 875-7200 | |
1130 S Alpine Rd #100 Rockford, IL 61108 | (815) 965-8616 | |
173 IL-2 Dixon, IL 61021 | (815) 288-5511 | |
15800 State St South Holland, IL 60473 | (708) 596-2000 | |
3575 College Rd Harrisburg, IL 62946 | (618) 252-5400 | |
2000 5th Ave River Grove, IL 60171 | (708) 456-0300 | |
Route 47 Waubonsee Drive Sugar Grove, IL 60554 | (630) 466-7900 |