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Receive your national NHA-CPhT certificate
100% online followed by in-person externship
Job interview prep and resume services
ASHP/ACPE accredited program
1:1 support from enrollment to employment
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What You’ll Learn
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Weeks 1-4
Learn the foundational healthcare knowledge you need to become a well-rounded pharmacy technician and start diving into pharmacy practice.
Weeks 5-9
Master the ins and outs of pharmacology and get hands-on with pharmacy calculations and prescription medications.
Weeks 10-14
Develop skills in processing and dispensing prescriptions, and prepare for the NHA ExCPT Exam with mock tests and a comprehensive review of key pharmacy concepts.
Weeks 15+
Apply everything you learned online and earn clinical hours in a pharmacy setting. Our experienced coaches will help polish your resume, prepare you for interviews, and support you in your full-time job search.
Online Pharmacy Tech classes at your own schedule
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01
Graduate from high school or complete your GED
In New Mexico, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED to work as a pharmacy technician. A background check may also be required.
02
Enroll in & complete a pharmacy technician training course
Training courses prepare you to pass the certification exam. Stepful’s coursework covers essential topics like basic anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. It also covers medication safety, pharmaceutical ethics, and pharmacy law.
New Mexico does not require pharmacy techs to complete training, they only have to pass the national exam. However, employers prefer to hire techs who have completed a training course.
One way to ensure that you are choosing a legitimate training program is to make sure it is accredited by a nationally recognized organization. Stepful’s program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), a sign to employers that our students receive a high-quality education.
03
Gain hands-on experience through an externship
Many aspiring pharmacy technicians complete an externship to get real-world experience. Externships provide the opportunity to work alongside pharmacists in settings like hospitals, retail pharmacies, and long-term care facilities.
Stepful has partner pharmacies across the country that may provide externships. While students are responsible for securing these opportunities, Stepful assists them throughout the externship process, from finding a placement to completing it successfully.*
*Please note that students must be available M-F, 9-5 p.m., to be eligible for externship support.
04
Pass a pharmacy technician certification exam
To become a certified pharmacy technician in New Mexico, you must pass a national pharmacy technician certification exam, such as the NHA ExCPT or PTCB exam. Stepful students have a 75% pass rate on the NHA exam—12 points above the national average.
Once you pass the exam, you can register with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy Registration to obtain your pharmacy technician license.
05
Start your career as a certified pharmacy technician
With certification and licensing in place, you can begin your job search. Pharmacy technicians in New Mexico work in many settings. There are even work-from-home options.
A quick search of job sites like Indeed and ZipRecruiter will show you how many job listings exist for certified pharmacy techs in New Mexico.
Stepful’s career support team helps students with resume building, job applications, and interview coaching to ensure a successful transition into the workforce.
To become a certified pharmacy technician in New Mexico, you must pass a national certification exam, either the PTCB or NHA ExCPT.
Certification ensures you understand pharmacology, medication safety, and pharmacy law. Non-certified technicians must obtain certification within one year of registration.
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All pharmacy technicians must register with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy.
- Application process: Submit a registration application, pay the required fees, and provide documentation of training or certification.
- Background check: Applicants must disclose any criminal history, and the Board may conduct background checks if necessary.
- License renewal: Certified pharmacy technicians must maintain their PTCB or ExCPT certification, which requires continuing education. They must renew their licenses every two years, showing their active certification.
Pharmacy technicians in New Mexico can expect strong job stability with competitive salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), New Mexico employs 2,660 pharmacy technicians as of May 2023. There are 3.15 pharmacy tech jobs for every thousand jobs available in the state.
Pharmacy techs in the state also make a decent salary. According to the BLS, the average salary for pharmacy technicians in New Mexico is $42,900, or $20.62 per hour.
The number of jobs available and the salaries paid vary based on experience, certification, and location, but the best cities for pharmacy technician jobs are:
- Albuquerque: The largest city in New Mexico has 1520 pharmacy tech jobs.
- Las Cruces: With a growing healthcare sector, Las Cruces employs 200 pharmacy technicians.
- Santa Fe: 190 pharmacy techs work in the Santa Fe region, with strong demand in hospitals and specialty pharmacies.
These urban centers offer numerous opportunities due to their large populations and the number of healthcare facilities they have.
Outside of metro areas, the best regions for pharmacy tech jobs are:
- Eastern New Mexico: This region employs 380 pharmacy techs.
- Northern New Mexico: This region employs 220 pharmacy techs.
Nationally, the BLS projects that the employment of pharmacy technicians will grow by 7% from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 47,400 job openings each year over the decade, primarily due to the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force.
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$42,900
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7% Growth
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2,660
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Professional organizations can provide pharmacy technicians with continuing education opportunities, career resources, and networking connections. Here are some organizations that support pharmacy technicians:
- The New Mexico Pharmacists Association (NMPhA) provides resources and continuing education for pharmacy professionals, including pharmacy technicians.
- The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) provides certification preparation, continuing education, and career resources.
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) provides certification and continuing education options to help pharmacy technicians maintain and advance their credentials.
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Resources for aspiring Pharmacy Technicians
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