Not all chances to change careers require a four-year degree or several years of schooling.
Learn how to become a Pharmacy Technician in Missouri in about a year.
Page Navigation
Licensing Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Missouri
The Missouri Board of Pharmacy requires Pharmacy Technicians to register if they want to work in this position.
It takes about three weeks to process your application for this registration, which you will process via the Missouri Division of Professional Registration.
See the application instructions for detailed information on registration application requirements.
It includes notarization of your signed application, proof of fingerprinting, and answers to a controlled substance questionnaire.
These guidelines apply to both in-state and out-of-state applicants.
Certification Requirements
You don’t need a certificate to work as a Pharmacy Technician in Missouri, according to the state.
However, potential healthcare employers typically require it.
That’s their way of making sure you uphold standards of handling and distribution of patient prescriptions.
The Missouri Board of Pharmacy doesn’t offer advice about how to become certified for employers.
You’ll probably find the information you need from the places where you plan to apply and the schools you attend.
One of the most prominent credentialing bodies that healthcare employers respect is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Finding a school that prepares you for certification by this association would increase your chances of finding work.
You also might gain the assistance you need for certification from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
Another organization that provides proof of credentials is the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
5 Pharmacy Technician Schools in Missouri
1. University of Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri offers an online Pharmacy Technician certification program.
The ASHP and the ACPE have both accredited this career training track.
It also prepares you for your PTCB exam.
You can use this training to gain employment in either a retail pharmacy setting or a healthcare environment.
When finished with this instruction, you’ll have the skills and knowledge required to package, label, and dispense medications while supervised by a Pharmacist.
Program duration depends on how much free time you have.
It includes between 130-200 clinical hours and up to 292 hours of classroom time.
2. Ozarks Technical Community College
Ozarks provides options for both new and experienced Pharmacy Technicians.
You can use the training here to acquire certification for the first time or to renew it.
This workforce-based training program provides you with both the classroom and real-life experience required for an entry-level position.
You will receive a combination of online, simulation, and externship experiences when enrolled in this certificate program.
You would spend about a year of your time on this learning track.
During this time, you will take your certification exam.
3. Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU)
The College of Pharmacy at this school offers four years of training for anyone who wants to become a Pharmacist.
You probably would have already spent time working as a Pharmacy Technician and decided this is the next step.
You don’t necessarily have to have had prior pharmacy experience, however.
It’s possible to gain hands-on experience assisting a Pharmacist while enrolled in this bachelor’s degree program.
4. Rasmussen University
You don’t need to have your education completed directly in Missouri if the state doesn’t require certification.
If you can’t find a school near you, Rasmussen offers an online Pharmacy Technician Certificate program.
Your Rasmussen training will prepare you for a PTCE or ExCPT exam.
This school also provides you with guidance about transferring a certificate you earned to another state.
This instruction covers all the rules concerning the distribution of the medication to patients.
It also gives you a chance to practice packaging and labeling medications for people who need them.
5. North Central Missouri College
North Central provides an associate Pharmacy Technician Degree.
This will take you about two years to complete.
Your time at North Central will provide you with plenty of chances to complete the clinical portion of your training.
This instruction includes online and in-person training.
Moreover, it provides you with the core foundations in medical ethics and laws, psychology and terminology, and more.
This associate degree program even takes you into American history and government.
In addition, it provides you with frameworks for communicating with patients who need their medicine.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Missouri
Top 5 Schools in Missouri
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of Central Missouri | 116 W South St, Warrensburg, MO 64093 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | 1001 E Chestnut Expy, Springfield, MO |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) | 100 W Campus Dr, Weatherford, OK 73096 |
| Rasmussen University | 11600 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210 |
| North Central Missouri College | 1301 Main St, Trenton, MO 64683 |
Pharmacy Technician Salary in Missouri
A Pharmacy Technician in Missouri will make an average yearly income of $35,467 in Missouri.
Your annual salary would range between $31,982 and $39,575.
As you continue gaining experience and new certifications, you could increase your earnings to $43,316 or more.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Pharmacy Technicians in Missouri
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Kansas City | $36,500 |
| St. Louis | $36,700 |
| Springfield | $35,200 |
| Independence | $36,500 |
| Columbia | $36,300 |
| St. Joseph | $36,200 |
| Lee's Summit | $36,200 |
| St. Charles | $36,500 |
| St. Peters | $36,400 |
| Florissant | $36,600 |
Regional Salary in Missouri
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 240 | $34,870 | $16.76 | $45,990 | $27,980 |
| Columbia, MO | 350 | $35,770 | $17.2 | $47,720 | $27,420 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 160 | $34,600 | $16.64 | $44,380 | $24,670 |
| Joplin, MO | 280 | $35,560 | $17.1 | $44,920 | $27,810 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 3,280 | $39,690 | $19.08 | $49,340 | $29,600 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 200 | $39,350 | $18.92 | $58,930 | $28,160 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 4,780 | $37,730 | $18.14 | $48,050 | $27,630 |
| Springfield, MO | 830 | $35,360 | $17 | $44,860 | $28,010 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to become a Missouri Pharmacy Technician?
It doesn’t necessarily have to cost you anything if you attend a school eligible for state or federal financial aid.
Some employers will also pay for your training if you attend their recommended program.
If you do pay for it yourself, it may cost you about $3,000-$5,000 for the one-year (or less time) certificate program.
What does a Missouri Pharmacy Technician usually do?
If employed in this position, you’d prepare medication for packaging and distribution as instructed by a Licensed Pharmacist.
You’d also handle and update patient records when they come in to pick up their prescriptions and answer their insurance claim questions.
Managing medical inventory also may be a part of your job description.
Where does a Missouri Pharmacy Tech usually work?
You would typically work in a retail pharmacy setting.
However, you can also find employment in a hospital, doctor or specialist office, or long-term care facility that has a pharmacy department.
