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Becoming a pharmacy technician in Tennessee is a good way to enter the healthcare industry.
Read on if you’re interested in such a position in this state!
Article Table of Contents
Job Responsibilities
There are many things a pharmacy technician needs to complete and most of his or her tasks call for a person who can pay great attention to details.
These tasks include:
- Counting out medicine
- Maintaining the inventory
- Mix medications
- Print prescription labels
- Answering phones
- Processing insurance claims
Depending on where they work, these individuals might even have to:
- Deliver medication
- Prepare IV solutions
- Administer flu shots
Requirements to Work as a Pharmacy Tech
Unlike in most other states, Tennessee doesn’t have a minimum age requirement for those who want to enter this field.
You will have to meet these criteria:
- Passing a background check
- Prove you’re an American citizen
- Write an application letter
- Pay the registration fee -$95
- Fill out a pharmacy technician affidavit
The application letter is to request registration with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy.
The registration needs to be renewed every other year.
The renewal can be done online and the fee associated with this process is $50.
The affidavit must be kept at the pharmacy employing you, while you’re an employee there.
Training and Education
The Tennessee Board of Pharmacy doesn’t require pharmacy techs to be formally trained or to attend school before starting working on these positions.
Those who want to receive some formal education or training need to have a high school diploma or at least a GED.
If you want to follow this path, make sure to choose an accredited program.
By attending such a program you’ll be able to take the national certification exam.
In these programs, expect to learn:
- Basic pharmacy practices,
- Pharmacy and medical terminology,
- Medical abbreviations
- Medication dosage
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Chattanooga State Community College | 4501 Amnicola Hwy, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37406-1097 |
| Concorde Career College | 5100 Poplar Avenue, Suite 132, Memphis, Tennessee 38137-0132 |
| Genesis Career College | 880-A East 10th Street, Cookeville, Tennessee 38501-1907 |
| National College | 1638 Bell Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37211 |
| Remington College | 2710 Nonconnah Blvd, Memphis, Tennessee 38132 |
| Remington College | 441 Donelson Pike, Suite 150, Nashville, TN 37214 |
| Roane State Community College | 276 Patton Lane, Harriman, Tennessee 37748 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 737 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | 1635 Vo Tech Dr, Athens, Tennessee 37371-0848 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | 740 Hi Tech Dr, Livingston, Tennessee 38570 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | 550 Alabama Ave, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-3604 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | 1303 Old Fort Pky, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129-3311 |
| Walters State Community College | 500 South Davy Crockett Parkway, Morristown, Tennessee 37813-6899 |
Keep in mind that not all the programs have the same duration, with some lasting a few months and others up to 2 years.
Certification Process
As mentioned, the national certification takes place after passing an exam.
There are 2 exams available and you can take only one.
These are:
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE)
- The Examination for Certification as Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
Each exam is administered by a different institution and there’s a fee associated with each of them.
Salary Expectations in Tennessee
As you can expect, there are a series of factors influencing how much you’ll be earning as a pharmacy technician in Tennessee.
These factors include:
- Experience
- Diplomas you earned in this field
- Workplace
- Work hours and shifts
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nashville | $32,567 |
| Memphis | $32,545 |
| Knoxville | $32,467 |
| Chattanooga | $31,662 |
| Clarksville | $31,568 |
| Murfreesboro | $32,321 |
| Franklin | $32,452 |
| Jackson | $32,299 |
| Johnson City | $30,565 |
| Hendersonville | $32,518 |
Regional Salary in Tennessee
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 980 | $39,400 | $18.94 | $49,510 | $29,580 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 380 | $38,940 | $18.72 | $47,980 | $30,010 |
| Cleveland, TN | 190 | $36,910 | $17.74 | $45,550 | $29,060 |
| Jackson, TN | 240 | $37,850 | $18.2 | $47,470 | $29,640 |
| Johnson City, TN | 450 | $37,590 | $18.07 | $49,000 | $29,110 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 580 | $37,130 | $17.85 | $45,910 | $28,980 |
| Knoxville, TN | 1,580 | $37,630 | $18.09 | $46,700 | $30,020 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 2,110 | $40,420 | $19.43 | $49,000 | $30,510 |
| Morristown, TN | 230 | $36,290 | $17.45 | $45,490 | $28,080 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 3,920 | $40,580 | $19.51 | $48,550 | $30,820 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Other Information
Strong communication, organization, and time management skills are a must for this position.
Here are some of the places seeking pharmacy technicians, but they’re not the only ones:
- Chain and independent drugstores
- Hospitals
- Assisted living facilities
Read the full guide: How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician Schools by State