Become a Pharmacy Technician - Education & Salary Guide
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“I think a lot of people think we’re just counting tablets and putting them in a bottle, but there’s so much more to it. I wish the public knew that. Our job is very high stress. There’s a lot of technical information that we need to know about to ensure patient safety and to make sure that medication errors don’t happen.”
Ben Montoya, CPhT, Lead Pharmacy Technician Instructor, Pima Medical Institute’s Chula Vista Campus
As advances in pharmaceutical technology lead us down the path towards more and more magic pills that can treat and cure myriad diseases and ailments, we will need more people who can understand the intricacies of the drugs we take and help to dispense them safely and effectively. These people will be pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who work alongside them.
As pharmacists are called away from the pill-sorting machines to interact directly with patients, administer flu shots and vaccinations, and counsel on drug interactions, pharmacy technicians step in to take on much of the day-to-day pharmacy operations.
And pharmacy organizations are not blind to this increased need. National pharmacy education organizations have begun to work together to ensure that pharmacy technician students receive the quality of education they need to be valuable members of their teams once they gain employment. This includes the creation of the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC), which will “work collaboratively to develop an accreditation system for pharmacy technician education and training programs that reflects all pharmacy practice settings and, if feasible, to consolidate the activities into one accrediting body” (ASHP).
| Pharmacy Technician fast facts | |
|---|---|
| Projected Jobs Created | 25,900 |
| Projected Job Growth | 6% |
| Average Salary | $40,260 |
| Low Salary | $29,640 |
| High Salary | $50,640 |
| Entry-Level EDU | HS Diploma |
| Sourced from BLS 2024 | |
Meet the Expert: Ben Montoya, CPhT
Ben Montoya is a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) and lead pharmacy technician instructor at Pima Medical Institute’s Chula Vista Campus in Chula Vista, California.
Montoya plays an instrumental role in educating his students and supports the campus’ career and student services teams by overseeing, documenting, and assessing students during their clinical externships. In addition, he contributes to curriculum reviews and leads advisory board meetings, engaging with educational and community partners.
With nearly 20 years of dedicated service in the pharmacy and higher education fields, Montoya has nurtured countless aspiring pharmacy technicians. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and fostering growth in and out of the classroom. In addition to his CPhT credential, Montoya holds a BS in biology from California Polytechnic University in Pomona. He thrives as a leader and a mentor and says he never tires of his work in helping to shape the next generation of qualified healthcare professionals.
MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What is something you wish the public understood about pharmacy technicians?
Montoya: I think there’s a big misconception out there about what pharmacy technicians do. I think a lot of people think we’re just counting tablets and putting them in a bottle, but there’s so much more to it. I wish the public knew that. Our job is very high stress. There’s a lot of technical information that we need to know about to ensure patient safety and to make sure that medication errors don’t happen.
MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring pharmacy technician students?
Montoya: The first thing I would say is to be open to learning and always ask questions because there’s so much to learn in this field. No matter how long you’ve been in it, there’s always something new. Another thing I would say is you really need to commit and focus on your studies because things professionals in this field are expected to have right, such as medical terminology, medication names, pharmacology, law, and math. Students also need to pay close attention to detail. Our job is so detail-oriented, so you need to be able to focus on the task at hand to minimize and prevent mistakes.
Aspiring technicians should target becoming nationally certified. Not all states require national certification, but what I would tell my incoming students is even if it is not required, set a goal to take the national certification exam because it will set you apart from those who aren’t.
Lastly, you need to start networking right away to create a support network. Network with your classmates, go out to a pharmacy, talk to the people who work there, and seek mentorship outside of the classroom so they can see what the job is all about. That way they have the potential for guidance and advice, so they’re not in it alone in this field.
Pharmacy Technician Degree & Certification Programs
As is the case with so many healthcare careers, degree requirements for pharmacy technicians vary from state to state. In some states, entry-level technicians may begin trainee programs with a high school diploma. No experience is required.
However, in other states, students must complete a fully accredited pharmacy technician training program and/or obtain an associate of science (AS) degree in pharmacy technology from a pharmacy tech school before they can begin work. Before enrolling in any program, students should be sure to familiarize themselves with the requirements in their state. The following is just a sampling of the types of pharmacy technician programs available around the country:
With accredited locations across the western portion of the US, PMI offers a comprehensive pharmacy technician program to students in Arizona, California, Washington, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. In 840 clock hours, plus a clinical externship, students will be prepared to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (CPhT) from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
This hybrid program, consisting of 35.5 credits, includes courses such as pharmacy law and ethics, pharmacy math, inventory maintenance, pharmacology, principles of customer service, pharmacy computer applications, and chemistry fundamentals. All courses within this program are acceptable for credit toward Pima Medical Institute’s health care administration associate of applied science degree program.
- Location: Mesa and Tucson, AZ; Chula Vista and San Marcos, CA; Colorado Springs and Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Albuquerque, NM; El Paso, Houston, and, San Antonio, TX; Renton, WA
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Expected Time to Completion: Nine months
At Clover Park Technical College, pharmacy technician students will work towards an associate of applied technology (AAT) degree in five quarters, with courses starting every spring and fall quarter. The program combines classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience for a well-rounded pharmacy technician background. The program offers hands-on classroom and laboratory training and three months of on-the-job training.
Classes take place at either the Lakewood or Puyallup, Washington campus. Students can alternatively pursue a certificate, which takes three to four quarters to complete. Both pharmacy technician programs at CPTC are ASHP/ACPE accredited.
The AAT degree comprises 92 credits, while the certificate comprises 44 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as pharmaceutical calculations; pharmacology; generic drug names; medication research; introduction to pharmacy & pharmacy law; and hospital practice.
- Location: Lakewood, WA; Puyallup, WA
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); ASHP/ACPE
- Expected Time to Completion: AAT (five quarters); certificate (three quarters)
The pharmacy technician program at Cleveland Clinic is unique in that students begin with hands-on experience from day one. Additionally, the Cleveland Clinic program is one of the few hospital-based pharmacy technician programs in the US, making the learning environment quite unique. Applicants to the program must have a high school diploma or GED and pass math and reading evaluations (or show a minimum GPA from college courses in those subjects).
Due to the high demand for this program, students must also have at least two semesters of college-level coursework, five years of professional work experience, or ACT or SAT scores. The program consists of 20 weeks of didactic instruction, which students can complete online, simultaneous hands-on observation and training, and a 200-hour externship.
- Location: Cleveland, OH
- Accreditation: ASHP/ACPE
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
For Southern California residents, the pharmacy technician program at Cerritos College is convenient. The program offers both a certificate and associate’s degree track for incoming students. The Cerritos College program has been accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) since 1999.
Completing either program qualifies students to register with the California State Board of Pharmacy, a prerequisite for obtaining employment as a pharmacy technician in California. The certificate requires students to complete 31 units, while the associate’s degree comprises 60 semester units.
The curriculum includes courses such as medication calculations; pharmaceutical calculations; pharmacy operations; over-the-counter products; pharmacy technician pharmacology; medical terminology; and an introduction to anatomy and physiology.
- Location: Norwalk, CA
- Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC); ASHP/ACPE
- Expected Time to Completion: Less than 12 months
List of Pharmacy Technician Schools
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUC University | Bayamon | Puerto Rico | https://university.nuc.edu | 172 |
| FVI School of Nursing and Technology | Miami | Florida | https://fvi.edu | 116 |
| Mountainland Technical College | Lehi | Utah | https://mtec.edu | 105 |
| Tulsa Technology Center | Tulsa | Oklahoma | https://tulsatech.edu | 92 |
| Northwest Career College | Las Vegas | Nevada | https://www.northwestcareercollege.edu | 84 |
| Concorde Career College-Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee | 74 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville | Arkansas | https://www.atu.edu | 71 |
| Downey Adult School | Downey | California | https://www.das.edu | 71 |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Texas | https://www.sanjac.edu | 67 |
| Lone Star College System | The Woodlands | Texas | https://www.lonestar.edu | 65 |
| American Career College-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | California | https://americancareercollege.edu | 62 |
| Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette | Lafayette | Louisiana | https://www.unitechtrainingacademy.com | 59 |
| Southern Careers Institute-Brownsville | Brownsville | Texas | https://scitexas.edu | 57 |
| Concorde Career Institute-Orlando | Orlando | Florida | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/orlando-florida | 55 |
| Brookline College-Phoenix | Phoenix | Arizona | https://www.brooklinecollege.edu | 52 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin | Texas | https://www.austincc.edu | 51 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | https://www.ivytech.edu | 51 |
| Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | https://www.hccs.edu | 50 |
| Access Careers | Hempstead | New York | https://accesscareers.net | 49 |
| High Desert Medical College | Lancaster | California | https://hdmc.edu | 49 |
| Riverside County Office of Education-School of Career Education | Riverside | California | https://riversidesce.org | 48 |
| UEI College-Fresno | Fresno | California | https://www.uei.edu | 48 |
| North-West College-Riverside | Riverside | California | https://www.north-westcollege.edu | 45 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus | Carolina | Puerto Rico | https://uagm.edu/es | 45 |
| American Career College-Ontario | Ontario | California | https://americancareercollege.edu | 44 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | California | https://pmi.edu | 44 |
| UEI College-Gardena | Gardena | California | https://www.uei.edu | 43 |
| Unitech Training Academy-West Monroe | West Monroe | Louisiana | https://www.unitechtrainingacademy.com | 43 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus | San Juan | Puerto Rico | https://uagm.edu/es | 43 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 41 |
| North-West College-Long Beach | Long Beach | California | https://www.nw.edu | 40 |
| Concorde Career Institute-Tampa | Tampa | Florida | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/tampa-florida | 39 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | Aguadilla | Puerto Rico | https://aguadilla.inter.edu | 39 |
| UEI College-Riverside | Riverside | California | https://www.uei.edu | 39 |
| Concorde Career Institute-Miramar | Miramar | Florida | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/miramar-florida | 38 |
| Oakton Community College | Des Plaines | Illinois | https://www.oakton.edu | 38 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus | Gurabo | Puerto Rico | https://uagm.edu/es | 37 |
| The College of Health Care Professions-South San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | https://www.chcp.edu | 36 |
| American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | https://americancareercollege.edu | 35 |
| Dixie Technical College | Saint George | Utah | https://dixietech.edu | 35 |
| Pima Medical Institute-El Paso | El Paso | Texas | https://pmi.edu | 35 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Tucson | Tucson | Arizona | https://pmi.edu | 35 |
| Southern Careers Institute-Pharr | Pharr | Texas | https://scitexas.edu | 35 |
| Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood | Washington | https://www.cptc.edu | 34 |
| Columbia Central University-Caguas | Caguas | Puerto Rico | https://columbiacentral.edu | 34 |
| Davis Technical College | Kaysville | Utah | https://www.davistech.edu | 34 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | New Mexico | https://pmi.edu | 34 |
| Wichita Technical Institute | Wichita | Kansas | https://www.wti.edu | 34 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Houston | Houston | Texas | https://pmi.edu | 33 |
| UEI College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | California | https://www.uei.edu | 33 |
| West Georgia Technical College | Waco | Georgia | https://www.westgatech.edu | 33 |
| Asher College | Sacramento | California | https://asher.edu | 32 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | Mesa | Arizona | https://pmi.edu | 32 |
| Charter College | Vancouver | Washington | https://www.chartercollege.edu | 31 |
| Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Louisiana | https://www.dcc.edu | 31 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Colorado | https://www.frontrange.edu | 31 |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | Rochester | Minnesota | https://college.mayo.edu | 31 |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | California | https://www.ccsf.edu | 30 |
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | South Carolina | https://www.midlandstech.edu | 30 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Kentucky | https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu | 29 |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch | California | https://www.ccmcc.edu | 29 |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | California | https://www.hlpae.com | 29 |
| Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta | Georgia | https://atlantatech.edu | 28 |
| CCI Training Center-Arlington | Arlington | Texas | https://ccitraining.edu | 28 |
| Fortis College | Mobile | Alabama | https://www.fortis.edu | 28 |
| North-West College-West Covina | West Covina | California | https://www.north-westcollege.edu | 28 |
| Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford | Florida | https://www.seminolestate.edu | 28 |
| Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | https://scitexas.edu | 28 |
| United Education Institute-West Covina | West Covina | California | https://www.uei.edu | 28 |
| Altierus Career College-Bissonnet | Houston | Texas | https://www.altierus.edu/campus/norcross | 27 |
| Florida Career College-Orlando | Orlando | Florida | https://www.floridacareercollege.edu | 27 |
| Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | Texas | https://scitexas.edu | 27 |
| Unitech Training Academy-New Orleans | New Orleans | Louisiana | https://www.unitechtrainingacademy.com | 27 |
| ABC Adult School | Cerritos | California | https://www.abcadultschool.edu | 26 |
| Altierus Career College-Norcross | Norcross | Georgia | https://www.altierus.edu/campus/norcross | 26 |
| Hawaii Medical College | Honolulu | Hawaii | https://www.hmi.edu | 26 |
| Southern Careers Institute-Austin | Austin | Texas | https://scitexas.edu | 26 |
| United Education Institute-Encino | Encino | California | https://www.uei.edu | 26 |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso | Texas | https://www.epcc.edu | 25 |
| Fortis College-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | https://www.fortis.edu | 25 |
| Northshore Technical Community College | Lacombe | Louisiana | https://www.northshorecollege.edu | 25 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto | Salida | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 25 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula | Temecula | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 25 |
| Ayers Career College | Shreveport | Louisiana | https://ayers.edu | 24 |
| Medical Institute of Palm Beach | Greenacres | Florida | https://medicalinstitutepb.edu | 24 |
| Pikes Peak Community College | Colorado Springs | Colorado | https://www.pikespeak.edu | 24 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster | Lancaster | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 24 |
| CTK Healthcare & Career Institute | Irving | Texas | https://www.ctkhealthcare.edu | 23 |
| Meridian Technology Center | Stillwater | Oklahoma | https://www.meridiantech.edu | 23 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | https://www.matc.edu | 23 |
| Ogden-Weber Technical College | Ogden | Utah | https://www.otech.edu | 23 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | Colorado | https://pmi.edu | 23 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Tennessee | https://tcatmurfreesboro.edu | 23 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Illinois | https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x | 22 |
| San Juan College | Farmington | New Mexico | https://www.sanjuancollege.edu | 22 |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | California | https://www.sac.edu | 22 |
| Unitech Training Academy-Houma | Houma | Louisiana | https://www.unitechtrainingacademy.com | 22 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | North Carolina | https://www.waketech.edu | 22 |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown | Tennessee | https://www.ws.edu | 22 |
| Augusta Technical College | Augusta | Georgia | https://www.augustatech.edu | 21 |
| Carrington College-Sacramento | Sacramento | California | https://carrington.edu | 21 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno | Fresno | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 21 |
| Altierus Career College-Tampa | Tampa | Florida | https://www.altierus.edu/campus/norcross | 20 |
| Concorde Career College-Dallas | Dallas | Texas | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/dallas-texas | 20 |
| Los Angeles Mission College | Sylmar | California | https://www.lamission.edu | 20 |
| Nevada Career Institute | Las Vegas | Nevada | https://www.nevadacareerinstitute.com | 20 |
| Northwest Vista College | San Antonio | Texas | https://www.alamo.edu/nvc | 20 |
| William T McFatter Technical College | Davie | Florida | https://www.mcfattertechnicalcollege.edu | 20 |
| Clark College | Vancouver | Washington | https://www.clark.edu | 19 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo | Arecibo | Puerto Rico | https://www.arecibo.inter.edu | 19 |
| Vista Adult School | Vista | California | https://www.vistaadultschool.org | 19 |
| Angelina College | Lufkin | Texas | https://www.angelina.edu | 18 |
| Carrington College-Stockton | Stockton | California | https://carrington.edu | 18 |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento | California | https://www.caj.scusd.edu | 18 |
| Coyne College | Chicago | Illinois | https://www.coynecollege.edu | 18 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | North Carolina | https://www.gtcc.edu | 18 |
| Infinity College | Lafayette | Louisiana | https://infinitycollege.edu | 18 |
| North Seattle College | Seattle | Washington | https://www.northseattle.edu | 18 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | Colorado | https://pmi.edu | 18 |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos | San Marcos | California | https://pmi.edu | 18 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Hesperia | Hesperia | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 18 |
| Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria | Alexandria | Louisiana | https://www.unitechtrainingacademy.com | 18 |
| United Education Institute-UEI College-Oceanside | Oceanside | California | https://www.uei.edu | 18 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Kentucky | https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu | 18 |
| Arizona College-Glendale | Glendale | Arizona | https://www.arizonacollege.edu | 17 |
| Fortis College-Dothan | Dothan | Alabama | https://www.fortiscollege.edu | 17 |
| Fortis College-Smyrna | Smyrna | Georgia | https://www.fortis.edu | 17 |
| InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield | Fairfield | California | https://intercoast.edu | 17 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Renton | Renton | Washington | https://pmi.edu | 17 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 17 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario | Ontario | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 17 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin | Georgia | https://www.sctech.edu | 17 |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes | Indiana | https://www.vinu.edu | 17 |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education | Piscataway | New Jersey | https://aimseducation.edu | 16 |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | California | https://www.cos.edu/en-us | 16 |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver | Colorado | https://www.emilygriffith.edu | 16 |
| Lamar State College-Orange | Orange | Texas | https://www.lsco.edu | 16 |
| North Georgia Technical College | Clarkesville | Georgia | https://northgatech.edu | 16 |
| North-West College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | https://www.nw.edu | 16 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas | Las Vegas | Nevada | https://pmi.edu | 16 |
| Ridge Technical College | Winter Haven | Florida | http://www.polkedpathways.com/ridge-technical-college | 16 |
| All-State Career-Baltimore | Baltimore | Maryland | https://www.allstatecareer.edu | 15 |
| Arizona College-Mesa | Mesa | Arizona | https://www.arizonacollege.edu | 15 |
| Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter | South Carolina | https://www.cctech.edu | 15 |
| College of the Mainland | Texas City | Texas | https://www.com.edu | 15 |
| Escondido Adult School | Escondido | California | https://www.escondidoadultschool.org | 15 |
| Fortis Institute-Towson | Towson | Maryland | https://www.fortis.edu | 15 |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Florida | https://irsc.edu | 15 |
| Orange Technical College-Westside Campus | Winter Garden | Florida | https://www.orangetechcollege.net/campuses/west_campus | 15 |
| Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood | South Carolina | https://www.ptc.edu | 15 |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | https://pmi.edu | 15 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud | Minnesota | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 15 |
| Rio Grande Valley College | Pharr | Texas | https://www.rgvcollege.edu | 15 |
| Uintah Basin Technical College | Roosevelt | Utah | https://ubtech.edu | 15 |
| Brookline College-Tempe | Tempe | Arizona | https://www.brooklinecollege.edu | 14 |
| Carrington College-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | New Mexico | https://carrington.edu | 14 |
| CBD College | Los Angeles | California | https://www.cbd.edu | 14 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | North Carolina | https://www.davidsondavie.edu | 14 |
| Florida Education Institute | Miami | Florida | https://fei.edu | 14 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | https://www.fscj.edu | 14 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama | Guayama | Puerto Rico | https://www.guayama.inter.edu | 14 |
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Washington | https://www.yvcc.edu | 14 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | Baldwin Park | California | https://bpace.bpusd.net | 13 |
| Bridgerland Technical College | Logan | Utah | https://btech.edu | 13 |
| Central Arizona College | Coolidge | Arizona | https://centralaz.edu | 13 |
| Columbus State Community College | Columbus | Ohio | https://www.cscc.edu | 13 |
| Columbus Technical College | Columbus | Georgia | https://www.columbustech.edu | 13 |
| Dorsey College-Woodhaven | Woodhaven | Michigan | https://www.dorsey.edu | 13 |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Washington | https://www.edmonds.edu | 13 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | https://www.forsythtech.edu | 13 |
| Fortis College-Landover | Landover | Maryland | https://www.fortis.edu | 13 |
| Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | https://www.gvltec.edu | 13 |
| Heartland Community College | Normal | Illinois | https://www.heartland.edu | 13 |
| Miami Dade College | Miami | Florida | https://www.mdc.edu | 13 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis | Minnesota | https://minneapolis.edu | 13 |
| Orange Technical College-Winter Park Campus | Winter Park | Florida | https://www.orangetechcollege.net/campuses/east_campus | 13 |
| Remington College-Memphis Campus | Memphis | Tennessee | https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/memphis | 13 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jacksboro | Jacksboro | Tennessee | https://tcatjacksboro.edu | 13 |
| Brewster Technical College | Tampa | Florida | https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/brewster | 12 |
| Carrington College-Phoenix North | Phoenix | Arizona | https://carrington.edu | 12 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins | Georgia | https://www.centralgatech.edu | 12 |
| Dorsey College-Wayne | Wayne | Michigan | https://www.dorsey.edu | 12 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | North Carolina | https://www.durhamtech.edu | 12 |
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield | North Carolina | https://www.johnstoncc.edu | 12 |
| Lake Technical College | Eustis | Florida | https://www.laketech.org | 12 |
| North-West College-Glendale | Glendale | California | https://www.nw.edu | 12 |
| Osceola Technical College | Kissimmee | Florida | https://www.osceolaschools.net/otech | 12 |
| Pioneer Technology Center | Ponca City | Oklahoma | https://pioneertech.edu | 12 |
| Rasmussen University-Illinois | Rockford | Illinois | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 12 |
| Remington College-Lafayette Campus | Lafayette | Louisiana | https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/lafayette | 12 |
| Renton Technical College | Renton | Washington | https://www.rtc.edu | 12 |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Minnesota | https://www.saintpaul.edu | 12 |
| Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | South Carolina | https://www.sccsc.edu | 12 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | https://tcatmemphis.edu | 12 |
| Unitech Training Academy-Lake Charles | Lake Charles | Louisiana | https://www.unitechtrainingacademy.com | 12 |
| Arkansas State University-Beebe | Beebe | Arkansas | https://www.asub.edu | 11 |
| Carrington College-Portland | Portland | Oregon | https://carrington.edu | 11 |
| Carrington College-Spokane | Spokane | Washington | https://carrington.edu | 11 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Tennessee | https://www.chattanoogastate.edu | 11 |
| Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville | Tennessee | https://www.fortis.edu | 11 |
| GateWay Community College-Central City | Phoenix | Arizona | https://www.gatewaycc.edu/about-gateway/central-city | 11 |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis | California | https://www.iot.edu | 11 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Kentucky | https://jefferson.kctcs.edu | 11 |
| Michigan Career and Technical Institute | Plainwell | Michigan | https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mcti | 11 |
| Mountwest Community and Technical College | Huntington | West Virginia | https://www.mctc.edu | 11 |
| Northwest Educational Center | Houston | Texas | https://nwec.edu | 11 |
| Pennco Tech-Blackwood | Blackwood | New Jersey | https://www.penncotech.edu | 11 |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora | Colorado | https://www.pickenstech.org | 11 |
| Pima Community College | Tucson | Arizona | https://www.pima.edu | 11 |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | California | https://www.valleycollege.edu | 11 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | California | https://www.santarosa.edu | 11 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Tennessee | https://www.southwest.tn.edu | 11 |
| Turtle Mountain Community College | Belcourt | North Dakota | https://www.tm.edu | 11 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Michigan | https://www.wcccd.edu | 11 |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Riverside | California | https://www.ach.edu | 10 |
| Carrington College-Citrus Heights | Citrus Heights | California | https://carrington.edu | 10 |
| Casper College | Casper | Wyoming | https://www.caspercollege.edu | 10 |
| Central Oregon Community College | Bend | Oregon | https://www.cocc.edu | 10 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | https://www.cpcc.edu | 10 |
| Chemeketa Community College | Salem | Oregon | https://www.chemeketa.edu | 10 |
| Delta College Inc | Covington | Louisiana | https://deltacollege.com | 10 |
| Huertas College | Caguas | Puerto Rico | https://huertas.edu/hc | 10 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German | San German | Puerto Rico | https://www.sg.inter.edu | 10 |
| Manatee Technical College | Bradenton | Florida | https://www.manateetech.edu | 10 |
| North Central State College | Mansfield | Ohio | https://ncstatecollege.edu | 10 |
| North-West College-Pomona | Pomona | California | https://www.north-westcollege.edu | 10 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Massachusetts | https://www.qcc.edu | 10 |
| Remington College-Dallas Campus | Garland | Texas | https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/dallas | 10 |
| Southeast Technical College | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | https://www.southeasttech.edu | 10 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Livingston | Livingston | Tennessee | https://tcatlivingston.edu | 10 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Pulaski | Pulaski | Tennessee | https://tcatpulaski.edu | 10 |
| Trident Technical College | Charleston | South Carolina | https://www.tridenttech.edu | 10 |
| Tulsa Community College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | https://www.tulsacc.edu | 10 |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | North Carolina | https://www.waynecc.edu | 10 |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Huntington Park | California | https://www.ach.edu | 9 |
| Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose | California | https://carrington.edu | 9 |
| Humacao Community College | Humacao | Puerto Rico | https://hccpr.edu | 9 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon | Bayamon | Puerto Rico | https://bayamon.inter.edu | 9 |
| Mid Michigan College | Harrison | Michigan | https://www.midmich.edu | 9 |
| Milan Institute-Las Vegas | Las Vegas | Nevada | https://milaninstitute.edu | 9 |
| North-West College-Van Nuys | Van Nuys | California | https://www.north-westcollege.edu | 9 |
| Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Florida | https://www.pensacolastate.edu | 9 |
| Remington College-Shreveport Campus | Shreveport | Louisiana | https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/shreveport | 9 |
| South Texas College | McAllen | Texas | https://www.southtexascollege.edu | 9 |
| Southeastern College-Charleston | North Charleston | South Carolina | https://www.sec.edu | 9 |
| Trinity Valley Community College | Athens | Texas | https://www.tvcc.edu | 9 |
| Vernon College | Vernon | Texas | https://www.vernoncollege.edu | 9 |
| Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland | Maryland | https://www.allegany.edu | 8 |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community College | Coon Rapids | Minnesota | https://www.anokaramsey.edu | 8 |
| Atlantic Technical College | Coconut Creek | Florida | https://www.atlantictechnicalcollege.edu | 8 |
| Brookline College-Tucson | Tucson | Arizona | https://www.brooklinecollege.edu | 8 |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | North Carolina | https://cfcc.edu | 8 |
| Carrington College-Boise | Boise | Idaho | https://carrington.edu | 8 |
| Galaxy Medical College | North Hollywood | California | https://galaxymedicalcollege.edu | 8 |
| George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Hanceville | Alabama | https://www.wallacestate.edu | 8 |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Minnesota | https://hennepintech.edu | 8 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo | Fajardo | Puerto Rico | https://www.fajardo.inter.edu | 8 |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | https://www.kirkwood.edu | 8 |
| Lanier Technical College | Gainesville | Georgia | https://www.laniertech.edu | 8 |
| Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College | Miami Lakes | Florida | https://miamilakes.edu | 8 |
| Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro | Georgia | https://www.ogeecheetech.edu | 8 |
| Remington College-Fort Worth Campus | Fort Worth | Texas | https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/fort-worth | 8 |
| South Dade Technical College-South Dade Skills Center Campus | HOMESTEAD | Florida | https://www.southdadetech.edu | 8 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Covington | Covington | Tennessee | https://www.tcatcovington.edu | 8 |
| Texarkana College | Texarkana | Texas | https://www.texarkanacollege.edu | 8 |
| West Los Angeles College | Culver City | California | https://www.wlac.edu | 8 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Iowa | https://www.witcc.edu | 8 |
| Albany Technical College | Albany | Georgia | https://www.albanytech.edu | 7 |
| Alvin Community College | Alvin | Texas | https://www.alvincollege.edu | 7 |
| Antilles School of Technical Careers | San Juan | Puerto Rico | https://antillespr.edu | 7 |
| Baton Rouge Community College | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | https://www.mybrcc.edu | 7 |
| Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Ohio | https://www.tri-c.edu | 7 |
| Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Texas | https://www.delmar.edu | 7 |
| Dorsey College-Roseville | Roseville | Michigan | https://www.dorsey.edu | 7 |
| Jones County Junior College | Ellisville | Mississippi | https://www.jcjc.edu | 7 |
| North Idaho College | Coeur d'Alene | Idaho | https://www.nic.edu | 7 |
| Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville | Georgia | https://oftc.edu | 7 |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Colorado | https://pueblocc.edu | 7 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | Rancho Mirage | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 7 |
| Scioto County Career Technical Center | Lucasville | Ohio | https://www.sciototech.org | 7 |
| Skagit Valley College | Mount Vernon | Washington | https://www.skagit.edu | 7 |
| Southwest School of Business and Technical Careers-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | https://sws.edu | 7 |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee | Washington | https://www.wvc.edu | 7 |
| Aiken Technical College | Graniteville | South Carolina | https://www.atc.edu | 6 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | North Carolina | https://abtech.edu | 6 |
| Carrington College-San Leandro Campus | San Leandro | California | https://carrington.edu | 6 |
| CEM College-Humacao | Humacao | Puerto Rico | https://cemcollege.edu/cem | 6 |
| Florida Panhandle Technical College | Chipley | Florida | https://www.fptc.edu | 6 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro | San Juan | Puerto Rico | https://metro.inter.edu | 6 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Michigan | https://www.lcc.edu | 6 |
| Lorenzo Walker Technical College | Naples | Florida | https://www.collierschools.com/lwtc | 6 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | Seattle | Washington | https://pmi.edu | 6 |
| Platt College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | https://plattcollege.edu | 6 |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez | Mayaguez | Puerto Rico | https://mayaguez.pucpr.edu | 6 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Johnson City | Johnson City | Tennessee | https://rosseducation.edu | 6 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Kentwood | Kentwood | Michigan | https://rosseducation.edu | 6 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Santa Maria | Santa Maria | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 6 |
| Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln | Nebraska | https://www.southeast.edu | 6 |
| Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach | Florida | https://www.sec.edu | 6 |
| Stanly Community College | Albemarle | North Carolina | https://www.stanly.edu | 6 |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | Kentucky | https://www.sullivan.edu | 6 |
| Unitech Training Academy-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | https://www.unitechtrainingacademy.com | 6 |
| Western Maricopa Education Center | Glendale | Arizona | https://www.west-mec.edu/findyourhappy | 6 |
| Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus | Pleasant Hill | California | https://carrington.edu | 5 |
| CEM College-Bayamon | Bayamón | Puerto Rico | https://cemcollege.edu/cem | 5 |
| Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | New Mexico | https://www.cnm.edu | 5 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | https://www.ccac.edu | 5 |
| Dewey University-Hato Rey | Hato Rey | Puerto Rico | https://dewey.edu | 5 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | North Carolina | https://www.faytechcc.edu | 5 |
| Hussian College-Daymar College Bowling Green | Bowling Green | Kentucky | https://www.hussiancollege.edu | 5 |
| ICPR Junior College | Manati | Puerto Rico | https://www.icprjc.edu | 5 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas | Barranquitas | Puerto Rico | https://www.br.inter.edu | 5 |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Minnesota | https://www.northlandcollege.edu | 5 |
| Nova College de Puerto Rico | Bayamon | Puerto Rico | https://www.novacollegepr.com | 5 |
| Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg | Florida | https://www.pcsb.org/myptc | 5 |
| Radford M Locklin Technical College | Milton | Florida | https://locklintech.com | 5 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Charleston | Charleston | West Virginia | https://rosseducation.edu | 5 |
| Sheridan Technical College | Hollywood | Florida | https://www.sheridantechnicalcollege.edu | 5 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson | Dickson | Tennessee | https://tcatdickson.edu | 5 |
| University of Antelope Valley | Lancaster | California | https://www.uav.edu | 5 |
| Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson | North Carolina | https://www.vgcc.edu | 5 |
| Bay Area Medical Academy | San Francisco | California | https://bamasf.edu | 4 |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | Alexandria | Louisiana | https://www.cltcc.edu | 4 |
| Chester Career College | CHESTER | Virginia | https://www.chestercareercollege.edu | 4 |
| D A Dorsey Technical College | Miami | Florida | https://www.dadorseytech.edu | 4 |
| Dewey University-Manati | Manati | Puerto Rico | https://dewey.edu | 4 |
| Emerald Coast Technical College | DeFuniak Springs | Florida | https://www.ectc.edu | 4 |
| Idaho State University | Pocatello | Idaho | https://www.isu.edu | 4 |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | California | https://www.imperial.edu | 4 |
| Lively Technical College | Tallahassee | Florida | https://www.livelytech.com | 4 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | Alexandria | Louisiana | https://www.lsua.edu | 4 |
| Pennco Tech-Bristol | Bristol | Pennsylvania | https://www.penncotech.edu | 4 |
| Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District | Chillicothe | Ohio | https://www.pickawayross.com | 4 |
| Rasmussen University-Wisconsin | Green Bay | Wisconsin | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 4 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton | Brighton | Michigan | https://rosseducation.edu | 4 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Davison | Davison | Michigan | https://rosseducation.edu | 4 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | https://www.sinclair.edu | 4 |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | Kentucky | https://somerset.kctcs.edu/about | 4 |
| St Louis College of Health Careers-St Louis | Saint Louis | Missouri | https://slchc.edu | 4 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Oneida-Huntsville | Huntsville | Tennessee | https://tcatoneida.edu | 4 |
| Valley College of Medical Careers | West Hills | California | https://www.vcmc.edu | 4 |
| Western Dakota Technical College | Rapid City | South Dakota | https://www.wdt.edu | 4 |
| American Educational College | Bayamon | Puerto Rico | https://www.amedcopr.com | 3 |
| Carrington College-Mesa | Mesa | Arizona | https://carrington.edu | 3 |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | California | https://crc.losrios.edu | 3 |
| Crowder College | Neosho | Missouri | https://www.crowder.edu | 3 |
| Dewey University-Juana Díaz | Juana Diaz | Puerto Rico | https://dewey.edu | 3 |
| North Central Kansas Technical College | Beloit | Kansas | https://ncktc.edu | 3 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | Iowa | https://nwicc.edu | 3 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Cincinnati | Cincinnati | Ohio | https://rosseducation.edu | 3 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville | Huntsville | Alabama | https://rosseducation.edu | 3 |
| Salem Community College | Carneys Point | New Jersey | https://www.salemcc.edu | 3 |
| Southeastern Illinois College | Harrisburg | Illinois | https://sic.edu | 3 |
| Treasure Coast Technical College | Vero Beach | Florida | https://tctc.indianriverschools.org | 3 |
| Warren County Career Center | Lebanon | Ohio | https://www.mywccc.org | 3 |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta | Georgia | https://www.wiregrass.edu | 3 |
| Carrington College-Tucson | Tucson | Arizona | https://carrington.edu | 2 |
| CEM College-San Juan | San Juan | Puerto Rico | https://cemcollege.edu/cem | 2 |
| Community College of Vermont | Montpelier | Vermont | https://ccv.edu | 2 |
| Dorsey College-Saginaw | Saginaw | Michigan | https://www.dorsey.edu | 2 |
| Eastern Florida State College | Cocoa | Florida | https://www.easternflorida.edu | 2 |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | California | https://foothill.edu | 2 |
| Global Medical & Technical Training Institute | Miami | Florida | https://gmtti.edu | 2 |
| Laurel Technical Institute | Hermitage | Pennsylvania | https://www.laurel.edu | 2 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Indiana | https://rosseducation.edu | 2 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Saginaw | Saginaw | Michigan | https://rosseducation.edu | 2 |
| Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City | Utah | https://www.slcc.edu | 2 |
| Schoolcraft College | Livonia | Michigan | https://www.schoolcraft.edu | 2 |
| Ventura Adult and Continuing Education | Ventura | California | http://www.adultedventura.edu | 2 |
| California Nurses Educational Institute | Palm Springs | California | https://cnei.edu | 1 |
| Cisco College | Cisco | Texas | https://www.cisco.edu | 1 |
| College of Southern Maryland | La Plata | Maryland | https://www.csmd.edu | 1 |
| Community College of Beaver County | Monaca | Pennsylvania | https://www.ccbc.edu | 1 |
| Hussian College-Daymar College Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Tennessee | https://www.hussiancollege.edu | 1 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | Mercedita | Puerto Rico | https://www.ponce.inter.edu | 1 |
| Laurel Business Institute | Uniontown | Pennsylvania | https://www.laurel.edu | 1 |
| Northeast Technology Center | Pryor | Oklahoma | https://www.netech.edu | 1 |
| Remington College-Mobile Campus | Mobile | Alabama | https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/mobile | 1 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Granger | Granger | Indiana | https://rosseducation.edu | 1 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Lansing | Lansing | Michigan | https://rosseducation.edu | 1 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Ontario | Ontario | Ohio | https://rosseducation.edu | 1 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Warren | Warren | Michigan | https://rosseducation.edu | 1 |
| South Suburban College | South Holland | Illinois | https://www.ssc.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & Online Programs for Pharmacy Technicians
Completing pharmacy technician courses online is a great way for busy people to further their education without traveling to campus. Many schools offer a selection of courses online, while others offer completely online pharmacy tech programs. It is important to note that clinical experience, while not a requirement for licensing in every state, can be a major factor in finding employment. For this reason, in most cases, it is best to choose an online program offering externship placement.
San Francisco State University
As part of its extended learning program, San Francisco State University offers an online pharmacy technician program that students can complete at their own pace.
Upon successfully completing the program, students will earn a professional development certificate and be eligible to take the PTCB certification exam. This program includes an 80-hour externship where students gain hands-on work experience. Tuition is a low $1,399 flat rate for the entire program.
- Location: San Francisco, CA
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Up to 9 months
Coastal Carolina Community College
At Coastal Carolina Community College, students can choose from a classroom track, a hybrid program, or an entirely online pharmacy tech course of study. Students who choose to complete their coursework on campus can take daytime and weekend classes for greater flexibility. Although the school does offer job placement assistance, this particular program does not include a clinical externship component, which may make it less attractive to some students.
Students in this 200-hour course are prepared to take national pharmacy technician certification exams and will be trained to work under the supervision of pharmacists in institutional or retail settings. Topics covered include patient safety and quality assurance, federal requirements, medications, regulations and technician duties, order entry processing, the dispensing process, drug and drug products, and math calculations necessary for daily pharmacy operations in various pharmacy settings.
- Location: Jacksonville, NC
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: 200 hours
Ashworth College offers a hybrid program with online components and a 160-hour clinical externship placement through a partnership with Walgreens and CVS. This allows students to truly learn at their own pace while also getting the experience that many employers want. Although there is no age requirement for enrolling in the program, students must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or its equivalent to complete the externship portion.
Graduates of this program are prepared to take either the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) ExCPT Pharmacy Technician certification exam or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB’s) Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
As part of the program, students will explore topics such as an introduction to pharmacy, drug classification and pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology, community and hospital pharmacy practice, and laboratory simulation and certification preparation.
- Location: Norcross, GA
- Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Four to 12 months
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Medical Academy | Clearwater | Florida | https://www.ultimatemedical.edu | 253 |
| Martinsburg College | Martinsburg | West Virginia | https://martinsburgcollege.edu | 228 |
| Rasmussen University-Florida | Ocala | Florida | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 49 |
| Remington College-Knoxville | Knoxville | Tennessee | https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/online | 41 |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | California | https://www.cerritos.edu | 27 |
| Ross College-Sylvania | Sylvania | Ohio | https://rosseducation.edu | 24 |
| Lakewood University | Cleveland Heights | Ohio | https://lakewood.edu | 22 |
| Carrington College-Sacramento | Sacramento | California | https://carrington.edu | 21 |
| Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | Louisiana | https://www.bpcc.edu | 20 |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Washington | https://scc.spokane.edu | 17 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud | Minnesota | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 15 |
| American National University | Salem | Virginia | https://www.an.edu/locations | 15 |
| University of Providence | Great Falls | Montana | https://www.uprovidence.edu | 14 |
| Amarillo College | Amarillo | Texas | https://www.actx.edu | 13 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland | Wisconsin | https://gotoltc.edu | 13 |
| Central Community College | Grand Island | Nebraska | https://www.cccneb.edu | 12 |
| Rasmussen University-Illinois | Rockford | Illinois | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 12 |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | California | https://www.valleycollege.edu | 11 |
| Lamar Institute of Technology | Beaumont | Texas | https://www.lit.edu | 7 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage | Alaska | https://www.uaa.alaska.edu | 6 |
| Allen County Community College | Iola | Kansas | https://www.allencc.edu | 6 |
| West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown | Morgantown | West Virginia | https://www.wvjc.edu | 6 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | North Dakota | https://www.ndscs.edu | 6 |
| New Professions Technical Institute | Miami | Florida | https://www.npti.edu | 6 |
| Barton County Community College | Great Bend | Kansas | https://www.bartonccc.edu | 6 |
| Northwood Technical College | Shell Lake | Wisconsin | https://www.northwoodtech.edu | 5 |
| Southwestern Oregon Community College | Coos Bay | Oregon | https://www.socc.edu | 5 |
| Rasmussen University-Wisconsin | Green Bay | Wisconsin | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 4 |
| North Central Missouri College | Trenton | Missouri | https://www.ncmissouri.edu | 4 |
| Rasmussen University-Kansas | Topeka | Kansas | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 3 |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman | Tennessee | https://www.roanestate.edu | 3 |
| Hussian College-Daymar College Clarksville | Clarksville | Tennessee | https://www.hussiancollege.edu | 3 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls | Minnesota | https://www.mnwest.edu | 1 |
Core & Elective Courses for Pharmacy Techs
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has made its Pharmacy Technician and Training Program Model Curriculum available online. The curriculum can be accessed on the ASHP website.
According to this model, pharmacy technician students should spend their educational efforts cultivating interpersonal and foundational professional knowledge and skills. Some of the career-specific skills of the curriculum include:
- The process and handling of medications
- Sterile and nonsterile compounding
- Procurement billing, reimbursement, and inventory management
- Patient and medication safety
- Technology and informatics
- Regulatory issues
- Quality assurance
Each course in a typical pharmacy technician curriculum should further at least one of the above goals. Because these programs typically last two years or less, there is little time for elective courses while striving to meet these model curriculum goals. Curricula may be organized to combine didactic, laboratory, and experiential training techniques for each course.
Accreditation of Pharmacy Tech Programs
Institutions of higher learning seek accreditation to guarantee to their incoming students that their education will be held to the high standards of accrediting bodies. Schools usually have institutional accreditation in addition to program-specific accreditations. Institutions may be accredited by regional groups, such as the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCC) or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). Any individual school’s accreditation information should be readily available on its website.
Pharmacy Technician programs are accredited by the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC), which is a collaboration between the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
To become accredited, schools must complete an application, including a professional record and CV for the pharmacy technician training program director, and submit an application fee. Upon receipt of these materials, an onsite accreditation survey will be scheduled to determine the school’s eligibility.
Career Outlook
The outlook for pharmacy technician jobs is quite good. Between 2022 and 2032, the demand for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 6 percent. Although people of all ages can and do use prescription medications, older adults tend to use more and take medication more often.
Therefore, as the U.S. population ages, there will be a higher demand for prescription medication and, consequently, for those professionals who can assist with dispensing it, such as pharmacy technicians. Higher rates of chronic diseases have also been reported in the U.S., such as diabetes, which requires long-term prescriptions, also fostering demand for pharmacy technicians.
Further, as the Affordable Care Act has found more Americans with health insurance than ever before, those patients may begin to take medications they could not afford. Most pharmacy technicians (50 percent as of 2022) work in pharmacies and drugstores, but a certain percentage also work in hospitals, grocery stores, general merchandise stores, and ambulatory healthcare services. As more pharmacies and pharmaceuticals are necessary, more diverse employers may also start to emerge.
Finally, pharmacists are expected to take on more patient care activities at many pharmacies, including administering flu shots. This means an increased need for pharmacy technicians to sort, dose, and prepare prescriptions.
| Career Facts | Pharmacy Technician |
|---|---|
| Related Careers | Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Records, and Health Information Technician |
| Common Job Titles | Accredited Pharmacy Technician, Billing and Quality Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Compounding Technician, Pharmacy Technician |
| Technology & Equipment | Automatic Dose Strip Packaging Machines, Tube Filling and Crimping Machines, Billing and Reimbursement Software, Database Software, Drug Compatibility Software, Inventory Management Software, Label-Making Software, Medical Software |
| Sourced from BLS May 2023 | |
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023)—the latest data available as of July 2024—there were 460,280 pharmacy technicians working in the United States with an average annual salary of $43,330. They earned the following percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $32,720
- 25th percentile: $36,290
- 50th percentile (median): $40,300
- 75th percentile: $47,680
- 90th percentile: $57,130
Licensing & Certification for Pharmacy Technicians
Pharmacy technicians are licensed on a state-by-state basis, so anyone pursuing this career must become familiar with the licensing requirements in their own state. Prospective applicants should also be advised that state regulations can and do change, so it is wise to seek confirmation on state requirements before enrolling in a pharmacy technician training program. More information on state requirements is available from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
Some states either accept or require certification from a nationally recognized body as part of their registration or licensing process. The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers the Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT), which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers its own Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification exam, which includes a criminal background check followed by an exam. Both the PTCB and the NHA require that certified pharmacy technicians maintain their certification with approved continuing education courses throughout their careers.
