The Best Accredited Online Pharmacy Technician Programs

Students can earn their certificate to become a pharmacy technician online through Barton Community College. This 29-credit hour program is designed to be completed in 2 semesters of study through an entirely online format. There are no set times for classes, so students can work within their own schedules to earn this certificate. Barton requires students to complete an internship at an approved pharmacy site, which offers practical experience in pharmacy work to students. Graduates from the program are prepared to take the national certification exams for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and go on to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes and department stores. The college offers free online tutoring through Tutor.com as well as career counseling resources. All students at Barton are eligible for financial aid, which includes state, community-level and college-level scholarships and grants; Federal Direct Loans; and Federal Work Study. Students interested in enrolling in the pharmacy technician program while they are in the army, or who are veterans, can participate in Barton's Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP). ConAP is a joint program between the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Barton that allows members of the military to enroll at Barton as they enlist or defer class enrollment for up to 2 years after they are discharged; this program offers matriculation options for veterans as well. Armed Forces personnel and their spouses may be able to use their military financial aid options to pay for their pharmacy technician certificate program.

The smallest community college in the state of Iowa boasts a graduate employment rate of almost 100% and a student faculty ratio of just 13:1. Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, NCC offers a 2-semester, 32-credit, 10-month pharmacy technician diploma program, as well as an undergraduate certificate that may be earned with an additional 7 credits. Pharmacy technicians working in Iowa must be nationally certified by an accredited technician certification board that is approved by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, and this NCC program will assist students in preparing to sit the certification exam. The program begins in fall and courses are offered on campus. Tuition for the 32-credit program is $251.69 for residents of Iowa and $261.69 for non-residents. To apply for the program, students must fill out an NCC application for admission and submit it, with high school or prior college transcripts as well as ACT or Accuplacer placement exam scores (which must be completed prior to applying). The program's 2nd semester includes a practicum, and those wishing to continue with the certificate program complete an additional practicum. Some coursework - such as medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology - is standard, but the program also includes a course that pharmacy technician students may not expect, public speaking, to help prepare them for communicating with a diverse range of people in the field of pharmacy. Students enrolled at NCC benefit from academic advisement, which is a requirement for all students, as well as free counseling and career placement services. Additionally, free computer access, developmental courses, individualized study, testing accommodations, study rooms and tutoring services are offered in NCC's The Learning Center.

LSU at Alexandria was established as a 2-year commuter college in 1959 and enrolled its first class in 1960. The school has a long history of providing training for the health care industry; its first degree program was an Associate of Nursing in 1964. Since 2001, LSUA has offered an undergraduate certificate in pharmacy technology that is accredited by The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Today it is a 41-credit, 18-month program to prepare pharmacy technicians and assistants to complete the national certification exam with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and work in hospital, clinic, medical practice or retail pharmacies. To apply for admission to the program, prospective students must complete the LSU application. A high school GPA of at least 2.0 is required in core courses. Students also will need to submit scores for either the SAT or ACT. Following basic steps to apply for LSU admission, students must complete an application to the Department of Allied Health by May 1. Acceptances often depend on factors such as GPA or other factors deemed relevant to the program coordinator, especially if a high number of students are applying. Once students are admitted to the program, they can expect classes to include time spent in the programs simulation lab, called PioneerRx (a software that allows them to experience pharmacy scenarios), and to be followed by rotations at affiliated hospital and retail pharmacies. Throughout the program, students must maintain GPAs of at least 2.0, or at least a C average in all pharmacy tech courses and clinical experiences, in order to remain in the program. Tuition for residents is $407.35 per credit hour and $710.09 for non-residents, which not covers the cost of students' education but also the support services available for students, including career planning and placement, counseling, professional advising, advocacy for veterans and more.

Ridge Technical College is 1 of 4 schools that have come together to comprise the Polk Education Pathways, an effort of Polk County Public Schools to help adults find the right paths to careers. Students wishing to enroll in Ridge Tech must take the Tests of Adult Basic Education, or TABE, a timed test which is a diagnostic tool that helps assess prior learning. (Students may not need to complete the TABE if they have associate degrees or meet other requirements.) Following that, students complete the Ridge application and participate in interviews with the Student Services Department, then register for their chosen programs (which may require additional steps). Applicants must be at least 16 years old and possess the aptitude for and interest in career education. Ridge's philosophy includes tailoring instruction to students of a variety of needs and employing an open-entry, open-exit, self-paced, individualized program. Students may progress at a pace that is right for them. Among Ridge's career training programs is a certificate pathway for pharmacy technicians. This 1,050-hour program prepares students to become eligible for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (CPhT) and work in hospitals, clinics or retail pharmacy settings. The program consists of 4 courses, all of which take place on campus during weekdays, though some take place in the evenings, for students' convenience. Tuition is $2.88 per course hour (not per credit), though lab and other fees are assessed as well, and the certification exam is $234. Ridge Technical College is accredited by The Council on Occupational Education and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.

MCTI is an educational center for adults who have disabilities in the state of Michigan. In fact, it is the second-largest rehabilitation training center in the U.S. Supported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan Rehabilitation Services, this center located in Pine Lake, Michigan, has 72 acres of land and access to 700 feet of Pine Lake. Students may either live on campus or in off-campus apartments across the street from campus designated for MCTI students. Coursework is completed on campus and 13 training programs are offered, each with an active advisory committee made up of people who work in that industry in order to ensure that curricula meet workplace standards. Among these is a Certificate of Completion program for pharmacy technicians, with or without preparation for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) (although Michigan does not have licensure requirements for this profession). Applicants must clear criminal background checks, have no criminal charges pending and pass an interview with an instructor prior to acceptance. Students who most closely match the occupational profile for pharmacy technicians - including strong communication skills, an even temperament and certain physical abilities - are selected for the program, which can be completed in 3 terms, or 30 weeks. Students receive hands-on experience in cashiering, inventory management and pharmacy receiving and distribution in MCTI's on-campus store and pharmacy lab. In order to graduate, students must earn a GPA of 2.0 or better and have good employability skills. The 3rd term involves a work externship in a retail pharmacy, which may take place after school or on weekends, and some students possessing skill for working in a pharmacy setting may be invited to take courses to prepare for the PCTE exam and be provided an externship in a hospital setting (which may require passing a drug screening). In total, the program is 36 credits, or 38 for students invited to complete additional certification prep. Student support services include medical and counseling services, occupational therapy, interpreters for deaf students, classroom and job accommodations and job placement services.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a comprehensive, public, 2-year college with 4 campuses in Minnesota; in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena. It was created through a merger of Fergus Falls Community College with 3 campuses of Northwest Technical College to provide a more robust education to area students in both the arts and sciences and career and technical programs. M State offers a hybrid (online plus on-campus requirements), 40-credit diploma program in pharmacy technology that prepares students to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). If a student passes this exam and works for 1 year in a sterile compounding pharmacy, they can earn the Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) certification in collaboration with the employing pharmacy. Graduates are then prepared to work as entry-level pharmacy technicians in a variety of pharmacy settings, including hospital, community or long-term care. All the coursework in this program is delivered online through the D2L Brightspace classroom environment, but in-person weekly labs on the Wadena campus and 320 hours of clinical rotations are required and are offered in the summer and fall semesters. The online course delivery adds a fee of $38.25 per credit to tuition costs, though in-state and out-of-state residents pay the same base tuition rate. Additionally, the fee to take the PCTE exam is $50. To apply to M State, students must submit the online application and fee, as well as high school/GED and college transcripts. To apply for the pharmacy tech program, a separate additional online application must be submitted, and students must take an ACCUPLACER exam, clear a background check and drug screening and submit proof of immunization.

This community college in Miles City, Montana, was founded as a junior college in 1939 in a block of empty rooms at the local public high school. When it received a $1.5 million grant from the Montana Coal Board in 1977, the school was able to construct a new vocational building and over the years began offering a host of vocational and technical career training programs. Among its offerings is a Certificate of Applied Science for pharmacy technicians. Students seeking admission into the program must submit an application to the college as well as a signed pharmacy technician-in-training certificate from a licensed pharmacist. ACT and SAT scores should be submitted to assist with appropriate course placement. Beyond that, MCC is committed to an open admissions policy, so that anyone over 18 with a high school diploma, GED or adequate ACCUPLACER score may be admitted into the college. Coursework in the 32-credit, 2-semester C.A.S. Pharmacy Tech program may be completed online or on campus and must be completed in the MCC prescribed sequence. MCC does charge additional fees for distance learning credits: $35 per credit for online or interactive television (ITV) classes. Upon completion of this C.A.S. program, aspiring pharmacy technicians are prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification (PTCB) exam and go on to practice as licensed pharmacy technicians in hospital, clinical or retail pharmacy settings. All MCC students, regardless of whether they are completing courses online or on campus, may utilize the free resources provided by the college, including tutoring for up to 2 hours per subject per week, full-service personal counseling services from the school's local network of private practice counselors, online writing and research help and more.

The pharmacy technology programatStanly Community College prepares graduates to assist pharmacists and understand all areas of pharmacy as well as practice and safely handle, store and dispense medications. Students can choose from 2 options: a 75-credit AAS or a 40-credit diploma program, both taught on SSC's campus in Albemarle, North Carolina. Students learn how to prepare prescription medications, mix intravenous solutions and other specialized medications, update patient profiles, maintain inventories, package medications in unit-dose or med-card form and gather data used by pharmacists to monitor drug therapy. Courses include pharmacy practice, pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, trends in pharmacy, sterile products, pharm dosage forms, community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and basic anatomy and physiology. Both the AAS degree and the diploma program require clinical experiences in which students work in pharmacy settings under a pharmacist's supervision. Through the hands-on experience, students learn effective communication with personnel, proper employee attitude and how to dispense medications, prepare patient charges and operate computers. Graduates are eligible to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. Employment opportunities include positions in retail and hospital pharmacies, nursing homes, research laboratories, wholesale drug companies and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.Student support services include an academic support center, writing center, advising, career counseling, library services and financial aid. Stanly is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The pharmacy technology program at Vincennes University, which is available on campus and online, offers both a 1-year certificate program (33 credits) and a 2-year AS degree (60 credits). The coursework for both levels fulfills the Indiana training requirement for pharmacy technicians and prepares students to take the National Pharmacy Technology Exam. Students also participate in a 1-semester practicum in an affiliated hospital or pharmacy to gain experience working with patients and pharmacy professional staff. Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing prescription medications to customers and/or health care professionals and typically work in retail pharmacies and hospitals. Pharmacy technicians in a retail pharmacy may be required to stock and inventory medicine, maintain patient records, measure medications into containers, type prescription labels, prepare insurance forms and manage a cash register. In a hospital pharmacy, technicians may prepackage medications, prepare sterile intravenous meds, maintain nursing station meds, collect quality improvement data and deliver meds to patients. Student resources include academic advising, career counseling and financial aid. The pharmacy technology program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and VU, located in Vincennes, IN, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The Certificate in Applied Science in Pharmacy Technician at West Virginia University at Parkersburg prepares students to function as pharmacy technicians under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The 30-credit course takes 2 semesters to complete on campus in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Pharmacy technicians prepare and dispense medications, maintain patient profiles and manage inventory in community and institutional pharmacy settings. Students learn the safe preparation and delivery of medications to patients through a combination of classroom presentations, campus laboratory practice and clinical experiences. Courses include pharmacology, medical terminology, and calculations for pharmacy technicians plus 2 clinical components, 1 in pharmacy practice and the other in clinical community pharmacy. Since WVU at Parkersburg's pharmacy technician program began in 2008, graduates have amassed a 100% pass rate on the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. Student resources include academic advising, tutoring, career services and financial aid. WVU at Parkersburg is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the pharmacy technician program is approved by the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy.

While many programs for pharmacy technicians require some on-campus coursework, Alaska's largest university, the University of Alaska Anchorage, offers a pharmacy technology program completely online. Students will graduate with an Occupational Endorsement Certificate through a curriculum that meets the Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Training by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Through 2 semesters of full-time enrollment, students will take 6 courses, which amounts to 16 credits. The course tracks include the option of either a fall or a spring start time. Course examples include introduction to pharmacy, pharmacology and techniques of pharmacy practice. All courses are taught by experienced pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are familiar with the professional landscape and can provide hands-on mentorship and education. Additionally, students will be prepared for Alaska State pharmacy technician licensure and to pursue further study in pharmacy. According to the Alaska Department of Labor, the career outlook for pharmacy technicians in Alaska is positive and the average hourly wage is $19.44. Distance education is also a growing element of the University of Alaska's offerings. The UAA eLearning support services help act as a liaison between students, faculty and academic departments for online coursework and help as a technical support role as well. Through their work with the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), the university has hosted events to showcase new technology that helps distance learning thrive.

As the accredited program of its kind in the region, Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, SD, has a pharmacy technician diploma program that can be completed in as little as 1 year. Southeast Tech's pharmacy technician program is designed to get students into the workforce efficiently and effectively and to build career skills and "workforce confidence" that will give graduates a leg up with some of the region's best employers. The program offers a rigorous and comprehensive full-time curriculum, requiring 48 credit hours over fall, spring and summer semesters. All coursework is designed to fulfill learning outcomes involving science and technology skills and comprehension, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, the demonstration of professionalism and strong communication skills. Examples of courses include basic anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, math for pharmacy, pharmacy law and ethics, and clinical practice. The program is designed to prepare students for pharmacy technician certification and even includes a course on certification review. The program boasts that most pharmacy technician students are hired even before graduating. Graduates have gone on to work for compounding pharmacies, hospitals, insurance companies, radiation pharmacies and research centers. Southeast Tech has an accessible, dedicated admissions representative for the pharmacy technician program who is knowledgeable about the program and can answer targeted questions from prospective students. Financial aid options, including grants and scholarships, are also available at Southeast Tech. Part of Southeast Tech's mission is to make education as affordable as possible so that graduates have little to no debt to carry with them.

Northshore Technical Community College provides students with a pharmacy technician program that can be completed in 1-2 years. This program is available at 3 of NTCC's campuses: Florida Parishes Campus in Greensburg, Louisiana; Hammond Area Campus; and Sullivan Campus in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Graduates earn a Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS) after completing extensive clinical hours as part of their training. They are then eligible to take the pharmacy technician exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Graduates of this program have obtained careers as certified pharmacy technicians, pharmacy sales associates and certified nurse assistants. NTCC provides a range of financial aid options for students, including loans, federal and state grants and scholarships. Pharmacy technician students are eligible for the Alphonse "Gator" Abadie Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Joan King Smith Memorial Scholarship and Sullivan Vocational Foundation Endowed Scholarship. Students may also apply for special state-funded scholarships through the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) program, which can provide full tuition awards and potential stipends to recipients. If a student is a resident of nearby Mississippi counties of Amite, Pike, Walthall, Marion, Pearl River or Hancock, they may qualify for NTCC's tuition reciprocity program, which offers students from these areas a reduced tuition rate. NTCC accepts veteran benefits as well. New students can receive help through academic advising resources, and both current students and alumni of NTCC can utilize the college's career services for help with resume development, to complete mock interviews, and to receive assistance in searching for jobs and filling out job applications.

With over 50 years of academic success among its graduates, Crowder College, accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Coordinating Board of Higher Education, has both the experience and drive to provide positive outcomes for its students. The college's Allied Health department has designed unique programs specifically to launch students into careers in the health fields. Within the department, Crowder offers a unique certified pharmacy technology program for students wishing to enter into the pharmacy technician arena. The program is designed to support the growing pharmacy technician field. In anticipation of this, the program is specifically geared toward Missouri State and national pharmacy technician certification. The program requires a modest 16 credits to complete. Courses include pharmacy techniques (I & II), business computer applications, pharmacology concepts and a pharmacy tech internship. In order to complete the program, students must take 1 of the 2 national certification exams - whichever is geared to the student's specific goals of either working in a hospital or retail environment. Passing the exam is None for obtaining the certificate. Crowder offers generous financial aid packages to its students, and there may be some scholarship opportunities for vocational students, including pharmacy technology students. Crowder also offers comprehensive support to its enrolled students, such as testing and tutoring services, counseling services and specific support to students from an agricultural or migrant background through its CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program).

Students at South Suburban College can test out a career as a pharmacy technician by enrolling in an introductory 6-credit hour course that presents some of the basics of this college's certificate program. The 39-credit certificate program, however, prepares students to enter careers in a range of health care settings, including hospitals, home health care agencies and clinics. In the certificate program, accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, students complete general education coursework and pharmacy technician training classes. Additionally, students will participate in 300 clinical hours in community and hospital pharmacy settings. The Pharmacy Technician Program Certificate is available to both full-time and part-time students and even offers required courses at night for convenience. Students currently working at pharmacies can receive customized clinical placements, depending on their work experience, and can earn up to 75 hours of internship credit toward their certificate. The coursework a student completes in the certificate program can also be applied toward an associate degree in general studies through SSC. Students in this program are eligible for financial aid, and residents and employees of Lake County, Indiana, may qualify for special residency tuition, which offers tuition at a lower rate than out-of-district and out-of-state students. There are a range of scholarships available through SCC and private donors to the college, as well as state and federal grants. Veterans can receive state and federal military benefits, including benefits for dependents of military personnel and Illinois National Guard members, in addition to receiving financial aid. All students can also access SCC's Counseling Center to receive academic, career and personal counseling to help them meet their educational and professional goals.