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If you want to enter the healthcare field but don’t want to also spend a lot of time training, becoming a pharmacy technician can be a good compromise.
This is where you learn what it takes to enter this field in North Dakota, including license requirements and training you should undergo.
Article Table of Contents
General Job Requirements and Duties
The first requirements you need to meet to be hired as a pharmacy technician, are:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Having a high school diploma or GED
- Registration with the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy
- Complete a training program
- Have a clean criminal record
Those hired in this position are expected to complete many different tasks.
The registration with the Board has to be renewed every year.
These tasks include:
- Dispensing prescriptions
- Preparing medicine
- Managing inventory
- Completing other administrative tasks
In a drugstore, these technicians will generally be responsible for managing payments as well.
Getting Trained in North Dakota
As mentioned earlier, pharmacy technicians in North Dakota are expected to complete a training program.
While they should train before being allowed to work in a pharmacy setting, individuals can start working with a special permit while training.
They need to make sure their training doesn’t last for more than 2 years from the time they received the permit.
The training program you choose needs to be approved by the State Board.
The classes for a future pharmacy technician are available both on-campus and online.
Depending on the school, classes may be full time or part-time and for the programs that last 2 years, and Associates’ degree is awarded.
Additionally, each school will have different acceptance criteria, with the one expecting full-time class attendance having higher requirements.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| North Dakota State College of Science | 800 N 6th St, Wahpeton, North Dakota 58076-0002 |
| Rasmussen College | 4012 19th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103 |
Getting Certified in North Dakota
The certification is obtained by those who pass a national certification exam.
The exam you need to pass is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and is organized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
To take this exam, you need to pay $129.
To maintain the certification, individuals need to renew it every 2 years, and to continue their education with approved classes.
Expected Average Salary
While in North Dakota the median salary a pharmacy technician can expect is lower than in other parts of the country, there are many factors that can affect it either in a positive or negative way.
Working full-time in facilities that operate 24/7 can easily increase your income.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fargo | $32,948 |
| Bismarck | $32,734 |
| Grand Forks | $30,673 |
| Minot | $32,207 |
| West Fargo | $32,948 |
| Williston | $32,207 |
| Dickinson | $32,207 |
| Mandan | $32,734 |
| Jamestown | $32,315 |
| Wahpeton | $32,422 |
Regional Salary in North Dakota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 160 | $47,600 | $22.88 | $56,680 | $36,920 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 430 | $45,320 | $21.79 | $56,160 | $36,940 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 80 | $45,170 | $21.72 | $56,270 | $35,710 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Getting Hired as a Pharmacy Technician
You should know that getting hired as a pharmacy tech is relatively easy since there are many institutions seeking this type of personnel, with hospitals, drugstores, and nursing homes, being the leaders.
Most of the working hours will be spent standing, so make sure you can do this for an extended period of time.
All pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of the pharmacist.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician Schools by State