Pharmacy Technician

Career Diploma 4 months

Updated

Pharmacy Technician School

If you're looking for a healthcare career in a pharmacy setting, you can pursue your goals with Penn Foster’s online Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Study the strategies, procedures, knowledge, and management skills that will prepare you to sit for the PTCE and ExCPT certification exams.

Penn Foster’s Pharmacy Technician Training Program covers numerous topics such as medical terminology, managing and updating patient records, assisting the pharmacist with office duties, and more.
Our Pharmacy Technician classes are meant to prepare you to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Pharmacy technician professionals are paid a competitive salary.
Need to complete an ASHP/ACPE accredited program to meet state requirements for this career? Our Pharmacy Technician Professional Career Diploma is modeled against ASHP standards.
Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.

Accredited

Online

Self Paced

Cost of Program

$949

$1,249 Save $300

$59/month, Start for as low as $20

Enroll Now Request Info

1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

What You Will Learn

How to demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role, including anatomy/physiology and pharmacology.
How to compare and contrast the roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in ensuring pharmacy department compliance with professional standards and relevant legal, regulatory, formulary, contractual, and safety requirements.
How to describe the steps, skills, and knowledge needed to prepare medications requiring compounding of sterile products, chemotherapy/hazardous products, and nonsterile products.
How to study and prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Pharmacy Technician Career Outcomes

Pharmacy Technician

AVG SALARY*

$37,790/yr

NUMBER OF JOBS*

459,600

JOB GROWTH*

Penn Foster's Pharmacy Technician Training Program is designed with job-readiness in mind. Study the skills you need while preparing for any required industry certifications and state licenses, so you can get started on your career path as a pharmacy technician or advance your current career.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information. Penn Foster Career School is not approved or regulated as a school by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. State boards may impose a variety of different requirements. These requirements vary from state to state. Before enrolling in the Penn Foster Career Pharmacy Technician program, you should contact the State Board of Pharmacy to obtain the requirements applicable to pharmacy technicians in your state. Penn Foster has determined that the curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: District of Columbia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Utah and Washington.

pharmacy technician in white coat on orange background.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Pharmacy Technician

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

There are a few steps to becoming a certified pharmacy technician:

Earn a diploma or associate degree. While completing an education program isn't mandatory to enter the field, doing so may improve your career prospects.
Gain job experience. Many pharmacy tech programs partner with drug stores to give students hands-on job experience.
Earn your certification. Most employers will only consider certified candidates, though some states don’t actually require certification. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) requires that you pass an exam, while the National Healthcare Association (NHA) requires that you complete an approved training course or have one year of relevant job experience.

Pharmacy Technician School Curriculum

30 exams
12 courses
49.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 4 months
Average time = 10 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In our online Pharmacy Technician Training Program, you'll learn the skills required to pursue a career in this field. Your courses include:

Pharmacy Technician Orientation
Career Readiness
Pharmacology, Drug Class, and Body Systems, Part 1
Pharmacology, Drug Class, and Body Systems, Part 2
Pharmacy Practice Law and Regulations

Show Full Curriculum

Pharmacy Technician Student Stories

Penn Foster’s Pharmacy Technician Training Program is a great first step towards a career in the healthcare industry. This program has helped other graduates find new jobs and pursue a pharmacy technician career. Learn more about their experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.

View Student Success Stories

Kayley C.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2023

“Penn foster makes higher education easier to work towards with kids and a full time job.”

Looking for healthcare training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.

Learn More

Pharmacy Technician Training Tuition

Choose from one of our payment options below and get started on your Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma today.

Option 1: Pay in full

Cost of Program¹

$949

$1,249 Save $300

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program¹

$1,149

$1,249 Save $100

Pay $59 per month
Start for $20 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program¹

$1,249

Pay $59 per month
Start for $39 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Need more info or ready to enroll?

Looking for more information on transfer credits, military benefits, or our refund policy? Find this information and more about tuition and enrollment here.

Tuition & Payment Options

We're here to help. Call 1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Request Info

Our Proven Healthcare Learning Model

Empowering you to reach your goals

Flexible

Start anytime
No exam due dates
Self-paced

Interactive

Digital study guides
Self-check quizzes
Simulations and videos

Connected

24/7 access to online resources
Online student community
Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

Expert faculty
Dedicated student services
Robust learning resources

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pharmacy technician reading chart in pharmacy.

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Pharmacy Technician Training FAQs

How much do pharmacy technicians make?

With training and experience, some pharmacy technicians can earn as much as $37,790 per year and job growth is projected to increase by 6% over the next 10 years.

What can I do with a pharmacy technician diploma?

Pharmacy technician jobs can be found in a variety of environments such as local, national and private hospitals, drug stores, grocery stores, nursing homes as well as other medical facilities.

How much does a pharmacy technician diploma cost?

We keep our program costs low and have special offers to keep your goals within reach. For as little as $899, our program also includes a PTCE practice test voucher (a $29 value) and the PTCE exam (a $129 value) included in your tuition. Visit our tuition page for the most current tuition information.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program accredited?

Yes! Penn Foster has been accredited for over 50 years. Penn Foster has been thoroughly reviewed and has earned several important accreditations, certifications, and licensing. Most importantly, Penn Foster Career School is both regionally accredited for non-degree granting postsecondary programs and nationally accredited by the DEAC.

What skills will I learn in this program?

Skills covered in the Pharmacy Technician Training Program include fundamentals of pharmacy and pharmacology, medical laws, ethics, regulations, and confidentiality, management and operations, math for pharmacists, body systems, and soft skills like customer service, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication.

How long does it take to become a pharmacy tech?

How long it takes to become a pharmacy technician depends on how long you need to complete the program and sit for your PTCE exam.

Which Penn Foster pharmacy technician program is the best?

Penn Foster offers two qualifications: a pharmacy technician career diploma and pharmacy technician professional career diploma. The main difference between the two is that the professional track includes an externship. While it takes longer to complete, the externship can provide you with valuable experience as well as a jump start on getting hired. However, the career diploma can help you get started in your career faster while still providing similar coursework to help you sit for certification exams.

How long is a pharmacy technician course?

The length of time it takes to complete your course will depend on how quickly or slowly you can complete your studies. If you fast track, it can take as little as 3 months, however, on average, the pharmacy technician career diploma takes about 8 months.

Do you need a degree to be a pharmacy technician?

While credentials will vary from state to state, most pharmacy technicians will need a minimum of a high school diploma and certification. Check with your state licensing agency for a full list of requirements.

Learn More

Which Healthcare Certifications Pay the Most? A Guide to Higher-Earning Medical Jobs Through Certification

Our Pharmacy Technician Professional Course Now ASHP/ACPE Accredited

Pharmacy Technician Instructor Monique Wants Her Students to Succeed in Work and Life

Sources:

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Pharmacy Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed October 2, 2023.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

Disclaimers:

¹ Depending on where you live, you may be charged taxes in addition to the total cost of your program.