Pharmacy Technician

Schools and Degrees

To meet the high demands of the healthcare job market, Arkansas State University Beebe Campus offers allied health programs like pharmacy technology. The role of a pharmacy technician is to assist pharmacists in dispensing medications to patients. Under this program, students are required to earn 60 credit hours which can be completed within two years or four semesters. Students need to complete academic coursework and a few weeks of clinical rotation. Graduates of this program are qualified to take the Institute for Certification of Pharmacy Technician exam (ICPT) or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCB). These certifications are necessary so that graduates can obtain employment easily in different pharmaceutical environments.

Graduates of the pharmacy technician program at the Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus are trained to assist pharmacists by creating patient records, packing and labeling medication and dispensing routine orders. Students who are enrolled in this program are taught by the basic courses within two years or four semesters. Aside from the academic coursework, students are also required to complete a short clinical rotation. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the certification exam and find employment in different health care facilities. The program is offered for the fall semester but the schedule is yet to be announced.

Central Louisiana Technical Community College offers a two-year pharmacy technician program in which students are trained how to professionally assist certified pharmacists to perform their tasks. Certified pharmacy technicians can work in different healthcare facilities like hospitals, drug stores, and nursing care facilities. Students are required to complete a total of 31 credit hours. Aside from learning the academic courses, students are also required to participate in a short clinical internship typically lasting a few weeks. Once the specified credit hours have been accomplished, students are eligible to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCB) to become certified pharmacy technicians.

Cape Fear Community College's associate in applied science in pharmacy technology program trains students to support and assist licensed pharmacists in providing medication to patients. This program is available as a daytime program and students are required to complete a maximum of 87 credit hours within four semesters, roughly two years. The students learn through classroom instructions, laboratory study, and practical, hands-on experiences. Aside from completing the required academic credit hours, students must do a clinical internship through an affiliated facility. Upon the completion of the program, students are eligible to take the certification exam.

There are many allied health programs offered by the Eastern Arizona College including the associate degree in pharmacy technology. The program trains students for entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Students are required to complete a minimum of 28 credit units. Aside from the academic coursework, students are also required to perform a few weeks of clinical internship under the supervision of a certified pharmacist. Students need to maintain a grade of C or better for all courses. Upon the completion of the courses, students are required to take the certification exam. They can also pursue a bachelor's degree in pharmacology or other related medical and allied health fields.

At Crowder College, it's possible to earn a pharmacy technician certificate in 16 weeks. The curriculum prepares adults for entry level pharmacy technician careers at clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. Classes also prepare students to transfer into related associate degree programs at accredited colleges and universities. A recommended plan of study is developed for enrolled students. The certificate program at Crowder College emphasizes pharmacy techniques, pharmacology concepts and business computer applications. An internship and a one hour college orientation are required. As part of the program, students take the national Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).

Augusta Technical College supports adults and businesses in east central Georgia. Locations of the school's four campuses are Augusta, Waynesboro, Thomson and Grovetown. The pharmacy technology undergraduate programs are administered within the college's Allied Health Sciences and Nursing division. A two year degree and a diploma are available in pharmacy technology at the school. It takes about two years to earn the associate's degree and 70 weeks to complete the diploma. Program advisors help students develop study plans. Skills that the program aims to equip students with include measuring drugs and heating, grinding and blending chemicals. The program also prepares students for registration with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.

Johnston Community College's diploma and degree pharmacy technician training programs are accredited by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Technical standards built into the training programs enhance students' communications, interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Organizational skills, visual abilities and abilities to prepare, measure and distribute chemicals and drugs are additional takeaways associated with the programs. A total of five semesters and 56 credits are built into the degree option. Students receive at least six clinical hours of training experience during all but the first semester. It takes three semesters and 40 credits to graduate with a diploma.

Two training options are open to undergraduates seeking educational training at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. The first option is the diploma program. Classes run for three semesters and cover 45 credits. It takes about one and a half years to graduate. The second option is the Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology degree. Five semesters and 71 credits are required to graduate. Classes are narrowly defined and focus on topics like human biology, pharmacology, trends in pharmacology, pharmacy calculation and sterilizing products. Hands on training in a health clinic reinforces classroom learning.

In addition to an Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology, State Fair Community College offers students opportunities to earn a professional and a skills certificate. It takes approximately one year to finish the professional certificate training. Adults can finish the skills certificate training program in 16 weeks. Basic skills gained during all three trainings prepare students to operate computer software, grind and measure drugs and communicate with the general public as well as insurance companies. The college offers students the chance to complete all three training programs on campus or online.

Durham Technical Community College's pharmacy technology program is a preparatory training program. Purpose of the program is to prepare students to enter the pharmacy technician field so that they can mix and dispense customer medications. Classroom instruction is supplemented with simulated laboratory lessons. Clinical experience is delivered via an internship at an approved medical facility. Among the approved facilities are the Duke University Medical Center, Person Memorial Hospital and University of North Carolina hospitals. Six semesters are built into the degree program, while the diploma program is comprised of three semesters of learning.

Classroom and clinical based studies offered in Casper College's pharmacy technology courses aim to equip students to work in retail and healthcare environments. Shorter of the college's two credentials is the pharmacy technology certificate. This program can be completed within six months. A two year commitment is required with the associate degree. Human anatomy, pharmacy operations and calculations for compounding are types of core courses in the curriculum. Prerequisites are required to get admitted into both training programs. Minimum GPA in core courses for the certificate and degree programs is a 2.0. Students must possess at least a cumulative 2.3 GPA for both programs.

North Georgia Technical College trains pharmacy technology students to work alongside a licensed pharmacists. Clinical experience and entry level pharmacy technician knowledge and abilities are gained through the school's diploma program. Through the associate degree program, students broaden their professional and technical learning. Emphasis of both programs is on chemical preparation, mixing soluble drugs, handling pharmaceuticals and creating and maintaining customer records. General education classes in both curriculums improve communications, critical thinking and problem solving skills. It is recommended that adults seeking to enroll in the college's pharmacy technology programs have strong math skills.

Goals of Western Iowa Tech Community College's pharmacy technology classes are career focused. Courses aim to provide students with abilities to pass the national pharmacy technician certification exam and to work in a retail, medical or healthcare setting under a licensed pharmacist's supervision. Required courses in the certificate program introduce students to pharmacy technology. They also cover pharmacology and include a practicum. Required classes in the diploma program cover topics like medical terminology, applied math, anatomy and physiology. The lowest GPA allowed in any class is a 2.0.

Ashland Community and Technical College offers three certificates, a diploma and a degree pharmacy technology credential. Retail pharmacy technician, pharmacy technician assistant and community pharmacy assistant are the three available certificates. These certificates generally take one year to finish. Students pursuing the pharmacy technician diploma receive training in three required courses that are not covered during the certificate programs. Associated career paths are in hospitals, medical centers, clinics and retail environments. Academic advising and a learning lab are open to pharmacy technology majors. Admissions adhere to a set schedule and are not accepted year round. Acceptance into the programs is selective.

The two term employed pharmacy technology certificate program at Lakeshore Technical College has two start dates. Students can enroll in the program that has a Fall start date or the program that starts in the Spring. Program accreditation is by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. As part of the Interface Project, the college's pharmacy technology curriculum make assistive technologies available upon request to eligible students. Classes are held Monday through Friday. Courses directed related to the occupation teach about subjects like medical terminology, health insurance, pharmacology and drug distribution systems. Lakeshore Technical College also offers a pharmacy services management associate degree.

Pikes Peak Community College pharmacy technology diploma and degree programs combine basic, general education and occupational courses. Both the diploma and degree program align with career paths for pharmacy and medical technicians in retail and healthcare industries. The diploma option is 33 credits. Sixty-four credits make up the degree option. Three prerequisites provide entry into the Associate of Applied Science Pharmacy Technology degree. College Composition and Reading is the five credit hours prerequisite. The second prerequisite, Computer Literacy, is a three credit hour course. Quantitative Literacy, the third prerequisite, is four credit hours long.

Graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College's pharmacy technology diploma program could fulfill a variety of medical related tasks. They could update and maintain customer records, prepare prescriptions and monitor and stock inventory. The diploma program is offered at the school's Walker County campus. Classes start twice a year, once in the Spring and again in the Fall. Students must be at least 18 years old to enroll. Training is not limited to the classroom. Students put their knowledge into practice in a simulated clinical setting. Forty of the 56 hours in the program are subject specific.

Guilford Technical Community College's pharmacy technology diploma and associate degree classes are held Monday through Friday. During the trainings, clinical and professional interactions are blended with classes like functional anatomy, physical therapy and pathology. Minimum credit hours needed for the diploma are 37. The associate degree can be completed with 68 credit hours. Students have to meet with an admissions advisor before they are approved for enrollment. A writing, reading or math placement exam may also be required. To get into the associate degree program, graduates of the diploma program must take and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board test.

Four semesters of study are built into Atlanta Technical College's pharmacy technology diploma. Courses provide integrated theory and technical training. At the start of the semester, students select a practicum to finish. The college offers a pharmacy technology practicum and a pharmacy assistant practicum. Both are comprised of 225 contact hours. During the practicum, students receive hands on training in a supervised environment. Immunizations are required to enroll. Prerequisites associated with the practicum are a background check and drug screening. Clinical, theory and technical training prepares students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam.

Somerset Community College teaches the retail pharmacy technician certificate and the pharmacy technician diploma programs at its Laurel campus. Applications are accepted until program class limits of 20 students are reached. All applicants must complete a preadmission interview with a program coordinator. In addition to becoming a certified pharmacy technician, the programs prepare students to compound, package, stock and label prescription drugs. The certificate program is 19 credit hours long. The diploma program takes 39 to 48 credit hours to graduate from. Minimum ACT math scores are necessary to get admitted into the certificate and the diploma programs.

El Paso Community College gets students ready to work in healthcare and retail facilities through its pharmacy technology programs. Academic options that area students can choose from are the pharmacy technology certificate and the pharmacy technology associate degree programs. A one year commitment is required with the certificate program. Minimum time commitment for an associate degree is two years. Strong math, computer, analytical, organizational and communications skills are advantages when entering either program. Post graduation, students should be prepared to pass the national pharmacy technician certification test.

Flexibility is a key takeaway with the North Dakota State College of Science. Classroom and online learning are available. The school also provides academic credits for approved working experience. Disciplines in the North Dakota State College of Science pharmacy technology program cover pharmacotherapy, drug delivery systems and drug treatments. Students can expect to take core courses such as medical terminology, human anatomy and general pathology. International students and active duty military members are generally accepted through the online option. The Pathway Program strengthens the school's traditional programs and prepares students to work in demanding research environments. At the end of the Pathway Program, graduates could enter North Dakota State University to earn a four year degree.

Central Georgia Technical College incorporates clinical experiences, similar to those found in actual retail and medical work locations, with lecture and technical lessons in its pharmacy technology diploma program. Classes are taught at the Milledgeville and Macon campuses. Minimum age to start classes is 16 years. Applicants must also have a high school diploma or equivalent. The 56 credit hour program centers around topics like mathematics, pharmacy technology fundamentals, medicine dispensation and human anatomy. A five credit hour practicum is needed to graduate.

Learning outcomes of the pharmacy technology associate degree at Southern Regional Technical College equip students to blend, measure and dispense medications in liquid and powder form. Prerequisites cover two semesters. After these courses are completed, students start core courses. Each student is assigned an academic advisor at the start of the first semester. Online tutoring helps to keep students on track, especially if students are struggling with technical or general education courses like math, computers or composition. Prior to graduation, a background investigation is required so that students can complete clinical rotations and take the pharmacy technician certification exam.

Spokane Community College's pharmacy technology instructors and the program director have hands on working experience at hospitals and medical facilities within and outside the Spokane area. The college's Health Sciences Division administers the three quarter pharmacy technician undergraduate program. A 2.0 GPA or higher and a background check are required to finish the training. As many as 176 clinical hours in a community setting and another 176 clinical hours in a healthcare setting are also required to graduate. The pharmacy technician diploma can be earned in half the time that it takes to earn the associate degree.

The pharmacy technology certificate and the Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology are workforce credentials conferred at Lone State College. Both programs are taught at the North Harris and Tomball campuses. Entrance requirements are associated with the programs. Day and evening classes are offered. Prior to entering a career field as a pharmacy technician, students must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's national exam. They must also register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. Community, healthcare, clinical and retail pharmacy education is provided, equipping students to work in a variety of environments.

Adults seeking to enter the pharmacy field could get their foundational training at Jefferson Community and Technical College. The school offers pharmacy technician certificates and a diploma. Program plans provide students experience in public speaking, medical office terminology, pharmacology and calculations. Under certificates there is the retail pharmacy technician certification and the pharmacy technician I certification. Students can finish each certification in a single year. The 38 to 49 credit hour diploma program takes about one and a half years to complete. Earning the diploma better prepares students to get an associate degree in pharmacy technology.

The Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology and the pharmacy technician technical certificate are two academic plans taught at National Park College. The certificate plan operates for 12 months. Full-time students should expect it to take two years to finish the associate degree. Courses are not flat. Instead, they are complex and demanding, a blend of lectures, internships and clinical laboratory lessons. As part of the academic plans, students take the national pharmacy technician certification test. Internships take place at approved facilities and typically last for seven or eight hours a day.

Clark College's pharmacy technology certificate is an expanded academic plan. In addition to preparing students to enter the pharmacy career, the curriculum prepares students to get accepted into two year degree programs. Focus of the certificate plan is to provide students with leadership, technical, critical thinking and professional skills. Two year degrees offered in pharmacy technology at Clark College are the pharmacy technician associate degree and the Associate in Applied Technology in Pharmacy Technician Leadership. Medical terminology, compounding, practical reasoning and health information services are major requirements in the degree plans.

Pharmacy technology academic programs at Fayetteville Technical Community College are health plans with a competitive admissions process. Prerequisites and points are needed to get admitted into the academic plans. Health application counseling sessions, a discussion with a web advisor and student advisement are phases of the admissions process. Options to gain entrance to the pharmacy career path are the college's diploma, certificate and associate degree academic plans. A major difference between the three plans is time. Both the diploma and certificate plans can be completed in a year or less. The associate degree is a two year plan for students who attend school full-time.

Wake Technical Community College's pharmacy technology academic plan is a collaborative effort, joining Wake Technical Community College and Johnston Community College's workforce development center. Through the collaboration, Wake Technical teaches the plan's general education classes, while Johnston Community teaches the occupational or core classes. Takeaways for graduates include the ability to screen prescriptions, grind or compound chemicals, dispense medications and accept and process patient payments. Training is not limited to textbooks. Laboratory tools are a key part of the academic plans. At the end of the program, students receive an Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology.

Places where Renton Technical College pharmacy technician graduates could enter their careers include hospitals, emergency clinics, retail pharmacies, grocery stores and veterinary centers. Available credentials that the school offers are a certificate and an Associate in Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology. Four quarters and 77 credits are built into the certificate plan. The associate degree plan is comprised of six quarters and 97 credits. Both plans are accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the Washington Department of Health. Students must pass the COMPASS exam and be at least 18 years old to start taking courses associated with the academic plans.

At Vance-Granville Community College, the pharmacy technology degree is offered through the Division of Health Sciences. The Associate in Applied Science in Pharmacy Technology prepares students to meet all of the regulations to practice in a live environment as set forward by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Areas that classes focus on include managing inventory, customer communications, medication therapy management and chemical compounding. The school also offers a diploma program. Students can get a diploma in one year, then continue their education and finish the associate degree in another year. Admittance in the degree plan requires students to have passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam.

This almost-90-year-old college, located less than an hour from Wichita, offers a flexible, practically-focused certificate program. Students can complete the 33 credit program in three semesters if attending full time. Hutchinson offers online courses which allows students flexibility in completing both their prerequisites and their theory-based classes. On-campus courses cover practical skills in lab settings. The program also includes a rigorous practicum: students will observe and participate in two different pharmacy settings for a total of 120 hours of practical work-enough to prepare students to sit for the board exam and become licensed.

Tulsa Community College's certificate program is perhaps one of the most clinically-focused pharmacy technician programs offered. The school limits each admitted class to 24 students, guaranteeing plenty of individual attention. The program includes 160 hours of clinical practice, and any enrolled students already working in a pharmacy may be eligible to apply advanced credit toward the 160. Students can expect to learn hard skills such as dosing calculations and medical terminology but also ethical pharmacology and communication skills. Post-graduation job placement is higher than average from this nationally accredited certificate program.

Considered one of the best community colleges in the region, Texas State Technical College in Waco offers a small but highly successful pharmacy technician certificate program. The application process includes a meeting with a Success Coach in order to ensure that the full-time, three-semester program is the right fit for potential students. TSTC's program costs less than $6,000 for in-state students and allows graduates to work as either pharmacy technicians or pharmacy aides. While the national median salary for pharmacy technicians is $29,000, for TSTC graduates, it's $32,000, and they boast a 97 percent employment rate for graduates.

Located in Detroit, Wayne County Community College District puts a strong emphasis on job training for diverse populations, and their pharmacy technician programs reflect that emphasis. In order to be admitted, applicants must receive at least a "B" in an introduction in pharmacy tech class and at least an 85 on a rigorous math test. Students can complete a certificate in three semesters or an Associate's degree in five semesters-including a semester of pre-requisites. Graduates of both programs are eligible to sit the national board exam and become licensed, and graduates of the Associate's program can go on to complete a Bachelor's degree if desired.

Davidson County Community College's pharmacy technician programs are suited to a variety of traditional and nontraditional students. The North Carolina school offers traditional Associate's degree and diploma programs, but they're best known for their High School Career and College Promise program. Eligible high school students can take several classes in the fall and spring of senior year. While there is a $175 fee, tuition and books are free, and students graduate with a certificate, allowing them to work in a pharmacy as an aide or a pharmacy care associate or to continue with the certificate or Associate's degree in order to become a licensed technician.

This medium-sized school, boasting just over 5,000 students, guarantees small class sizes for students. College of the Mainland has a two-semester certificate program with tuition and fees totaling around $2,500. There is also a four-semester Associate's degree option, which prepares students for management-track positions. CotM offers distance learning opportunities including online courses and a wide variety of participating pharmacies for the practicum. The flexibility of both programs makes CotM suitable for both working students and students with families. Graduates of both the two- and four-year programs are eligible to take the licensing exam, and in 2014, 100 percent of graduates taking the exam passed on their first attempt.

This Dayton, Ohio-based school offers two paths for those interested in becoming pharmacy technicians. The short-term program takes 18 to 20 semester hours over 32 weeks and includes two core courses that will help students prepare to take the board exam in order to become licensed. The more comprehensive program takes 30 to 32 semester hours-including 105 hours of directed practice at a participating pharmacy. Sinclair is also known for its vast number of online courses, so those taking the advanced pharmacy tech path may complete their prerequisites online, making the degree flexible and accessible for those who work full-time.

Located in the small city of Columbus, Georgia, Columbus Technical College boasts high job placement rates in its pharmacy technician programs. Both the diploma and the Associate's are extended-length programs that put strong emphasis on practical knowledge, and both are comprehensive enough to sit for the national licensing exam. Functionally, the difference between the two programs comes down to whether or not a student wants to go on to receive their Bachelor's degree. The diploma program requires 52 credit hours. The Associate's degree requires 62 credit hours and is suitable for students considering continuing their education at a four-year university.

This small technical college in Albany, Georgia offers evening courses for both its diploma and Associate's degree programs, with the exception of practical experience, which must be competed in the daytime in a lab setting and at any of a number of participating pharmacies. There is a secondary campus in Cuthbert, a small town about an hour from Albany, making it easier for those in the workforce or with families to make their schedules work around their individual needs without a sometimes deal-breaking commute. While most pharmacy technician programs focus on all pharmacy atmospheres, Albany focuses on hospital and retail settings.

Student interested in studying pharmacy sciences can begin their academic career at North Iowa Area Community College. This program is included in NIACC's Career Cluster and Transfer system and is designed to give students access to introductory pharmacy technician courses that can transfer to larger institutions for advancement. With 75 percent of faculty having master's or doctorate degrees, student may receive valuable instruction from highly educated professors. NIACC also provides prospective students with access to their Career Coach which details various degree and career information such as current local employment statistics, income rates, available positions and required levels of education.

Cerritos College's pharmacy technician certificate and Associate's degree programs provide a wide survey of the different forms of employment pharmacy techs can seek out through their rigorous externship program; students are required to shadow professionals and eventually begin to work in a professional setting. They can shadow professionals in community pharmacies, long term hospital care, and home health. There are also opportunities to learn about manufacturing and pharmaceutical sales. At $46 per credit, the tuition for the 60-credit Associate's degree is only $2,760 and the 31-credit certificate is $1,426. They offer both day and evening classes, allowing for maximum flexibility.

Chemeketa is home to the only accredited pharmacy technician program in the state of Oregon. For those interested in taking the national board exam and becoming licensed, Chemeketa offers either a one-year certificate or a two-year Associate's degree program. With two main campuses and four distance education centers, online and evening classes, schedules are flexible. Students can expect to learn about patient records, inventory control, and communication strategies. For those interested in management track positions, leadership training is also available. With no more than 30 students to a class, the program is also academically rigorous: the graduation rate is 87 percent, and the board exam pass rate is 100 percent.

A medium-sized school located in Lufkin, Texas, Angelina College offers a 32-credit pharmacy technician certificate. 15 percent of Lufkin's population is 65 or over, a number set to increase, which means an anticipated increase in demand for pharmacy technicians. Full-time students can complete the program is a year and will learn about drug classification, pharmaceutical mathematics, community practices and pharmacy law. Online and evening classes are an option. Students are also eligible to become certified in the preparation of intravenous admixtures through the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, a specialized skill that will make graduates more desirable to potential employers.

With a mix of classroom, lab, and clinical settings, Jones County Junior College's pharmacy technician Associate's degree prepares its students for either traditional employment in a pharmacy setting or nontraditional employment, such as with medical software companies. A full-time student can complete the five-semester program which includes a summer term practicum in two years. The degree is workforce-focused: students work in lab settings as early as their second semester. JCJC also offers public speaking and pharmacy management classes, which prepares students for customer-facing positions and upward mobility.

Gateway Technical College considers their pharmacy tech program a "technical diploma." The Wisconsin school puts such a heavy emphasis on clinical settings that in the two semester program, students spend 160 hours in a variety of pharmacy settings, both shadowing professionals and doing hands-on training. Most courses including all labs are offered at the Burlington Center, which is home to GTC's nursing program, though some general courses may be taken at the main campus in Kenosha or online. Students are quickly introduced to potential employers, and the program is so rigorous that graduates qualify to sit for the licensing exam.

Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Miles Community Colleges offers a two-year Certificate of Applied Science Pharmacy Technician. After completing one year of prerequisite classes, students take two semesters of classes specialized to their major for a total of 66 required credits. The program was created for full-time students, but part-time is possible. During the final semester, students have the opportunity to work in a pharmacy as an intern to gain on the job experience. Upon completion, students can take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification exam and work as a licensed Pharmacy Technician in the state of Montana.