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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician program has received accreditation by ASHP! American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is the only nationally-recognized pharmacy association that accredits pharmacy technician training programs in the United States. ASHP accreditation represents formal recognition of the high quality of services and care provided by Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician program.
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.
All pharmacy technicians must register with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy.
Pharmacy technicians perform vital tasks that support pharmacists and ensure patients receive safe, accurate medication. However, the scope of practice varies by state.
Here is a description of the pharmacy technician’s scope of practice in New Mexico:
Pharmacy technicians in New Mexico perform essential duties under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Their responsibilities are clearly defined to ensure patient safety and efficient pharmacy operations. They include:
It's important to note that certain responsibilities are reserved exclusively for pharmacists, such as:
These guidelines ensure that pharmacy technicians operate within their defined scope of practice, maintaining the safety and well-being of patients.
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:
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:
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.
Professional organizations can provide pharmacy technicians with continuing education opportunities, career resources, and networking connections. Here are some organizations that support pharmacy technicians:
4-Month Online Pharmacy Technician Course
Receive your National NHA-CPhT Certificate
100% Online Followed by In-Person Externship
Job Interview Prep and Resume Services
1:1 Support From Enrollment to Employment
