Deciding what direction to take in your career is not always easy.
Learning how to become a Pharmacy Technician in West Virginia could land you a healthcare job in less than a year.
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Licensing Requirements to Become
West Virginia Legislature outlines under what conditions a Pharmacy Tech needs to register.
If it’s not totally clear to you what this means for you, contact someone from the state.
You can also request information from the Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board (PTCB).
This national credentialing body provides two different Certified Pharmacy Technician certificates (CPhT and CPhT-Adv).
PTCB also hosts the Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) exam.
Alternative national certifications are also possible.
For instance, the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) offers both beginning and advanced Pharmacy Technician certification options like the PTCB does.
NPTA also provides both sterile and non-sterile compounding training.
They offer 13 specialized certificates too.
Some include medication history, therapy and management.
Others include billing and reimbursement, controlled substances diversion, and point-of-care testing.
It’s the credentialing bodies within WV that set the standards for healthcare facilities.
When hiring, retail pharmacies, private doctors’ offices, long-term care providers, and specialty clinics all abide by certificate body guidelines.
5 Pharmacy Technician Schools in West Virginia
1. Mountwest Community and Technical College
Mountwest provides both a one-year certificate and a two-year associate Pharmacy Technician program.
This will take you through both the beginning and advanced medication preparation and administration steps and advise you on sterilization.
These programs will equip you with knowledge and provide you with real-world practice as a new student.
The advanced training program version will help you acquire the Level II Pharmacy Tech training.
You learn both the business ethical side and pharmacy-related duties.
In addition, your training develops your record-keeping software skills.
This includes making notes about patient conditions and retrieving their information when they have questions.
2. Ross Medical Education Center
Ross offers a variety of medical career training programs in different states.
Now, they have a presence in West Virginia.
It’s up to you to find the campus or the online training that would best fit your career goals.
Some of what you’d learn is pharmacy-related.
You could also train for a Medical Assistant career here, a role that also requires some pharmacology training.
3. West Virginia Junior College (WVJC)
WVJC offers both online training and a chance to experience what you learn in a hands-on setting.
Learn everything from Pharmacy regulations and ethics to finding creative ways to offer patients compassion.
You will also learn how to fill scripts for and answer basic questions.
Part of your training will also involve processing patient records, filing insurance claims, preparing IVs and more.
You could use this as standalone career training.
It also can help you in any medical role you play, including phlebotomy (blood drawing), medical assisting or reading EKG machines.
4. Martinsburg College
Martinsburg offers an 18-credit-hour Pharmacy Technician program.
When you complete this coursework, you will most likely know how to identify the 200 most often used medications and calculate dosages.
In addition, you will know how to read and understand drug labels and know how to package them.
This includes adding the usage and side effects info on all pill bottles.
You will also learn medical terms.
In addition, this coursework prepares you to deal with the medical ethics and legal aspects of handling patients.
It’s an excellent course for you to become a Pharmacy Technician first.
Then, it could lead you to become a Pharmacist, nurse, or other health career position that interests you.
5. MedCerts
MedCerts provides you with resources you might seek if it’s time to renew your Pharmacy Technician certification.
It includes online videos that can provide you with updated health technology information too.
It will provide you with basic training on preparing, mixing, and counting medication.
You’ll also learn how to process prescriptions and file insurance claims.
It’s a well-rounded introduction to all Pharmacy Tech topics required for certification.
It will prepare you for your PTCB exam too.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in West Virginia – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in West Virginia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Mountwest Community and Technical College | 1 Mountwest Way, Huntington, WV 25701 |
| Ross Medical Education Center | 5707 MacCorkle Ave SE Ste 20, Charleston, WV 25304 |
| West Virginia Junior College (WVJC) | 148 Willey St, Morgantown, WV 26505 |
| Martinsburg College | 341 Aikens Center, Martinsburg, WV 25404 |
| MedCerts | Online |
Pharmacy Technician Salary in West Virginia
A West Virginia Pharmacy Technician can earn an average salary of $32,974.
Your earnings could range from $29,734-$36,793 though.
After gaining additional certifications, you could earn about $37,000 or more per year.
If you’re not sure where to start looking for jobs, try Weirton, Wheeling, Advent, or Adrian.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Pharmacy Technicians in West Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $34,002 |
| Huntington | $33,300 |
| Parkersburg | $33,100 |
| Wheeling | $36,500 |
| Morgantown | $36,500 |
| Weirton | $36,400 |
| Fairmont | $36,500 |
| Beckley | $33,700 |
| Clarksburg | $32,800 |
| Martinsburg | $41,300 |
Regional Salary in West Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 240 | $34,210 | $16.45 | $44,300 | $27,640 |
| Charleston, WV | 520 | $34,730 | $16.7 | $45,260 | $29,080 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 820 | $35,410 | $17.03 | $45,910 | $28,500 |
| Morgantown, WV | 480 | $36,960 | $17.77 | $44,760 | $28,960 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 140 | $33,570 | $16.14 | $42,630 | $26,820 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 230 | $34,210 | $16.45 | $44,910 | $26,350 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 280 | $35,120 | $16.89 | $43,940 | $28,280 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does WV Pharmacy Technician certification take?
It depends on how much free time you have and what your career goals are.
You can complete the Level I requirements in less than a year if you want.
Achieving additional certifications or earning a degree could take you two years or more.
To become a Licensed Pharmacist, you’d have to attend school at least six years.
Do you need a degree to become a Pharmacy Technician in WV?
No, you do not.
The certificate program usually provides you the background courses and clinical hours for certification.
How much does West Virginia Pharmacy Technician training cost?
It varies. Accredited programs usually cost about $3,000-5,000 for certificate training.
Some might cost more.
Sometimes, your exam study materials and price of certification exam is included in your tuition.
