Best Pharmacy Technician Training Programs of 2024 (2024)

2024's Top Ranked Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

2024's Top Ranked Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

We chose this program as best overall because students earn a Health-Sciences Pharmacy Technician associate degree in less than two years, and it prepares them to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE).

Ultimate Medical Academy offers the best overall pharmacy technician training program, largely because it allows students to earn a complete associate degree in less than two years. In just 18 months, you could be sporting a Health-Sciences Pharmacy Technician associate degree to score a job at your dream pharmacy.

This program provides hands-on skills training in an on-site or arranged externship. The training fully prepares you to pursue entry-level jobs in a pharmacy setting. The curriculum covers the hard and soft skills you need to succeed as a pharmacy technician, as well as the practical and theoretical knowledge you must know to best serve patients.

The UMA associate degree core courses include pharmacy tech fundamentals & computer applications, pharmacology and sterile products & HIV/AIDS, anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmaceutical calculations, drug/dosage and interactions, pharmacy law and ethics, and community & institutional pharmacy. The course includes a certification review and ends with a 180-hour externship that may be offered on-site at a Florida campus or as otherwise designated by the instructors. Other than the externship, all of the coursework is online and flexible.

Because this is a full associate degree program, you’ll also have to take general education classes like English composition and college math. If you already have a degree and have already taken these courses, you may be able to transfer these credits to the Academy.

Although not required in all states, board certification is attractive to potential employers. UMA’s pharmacy technician program prepares you to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). When you pass, you earn the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) designation.

Admissions requirements include:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent
• Proficiency in English
• Meet age requirements by state
• Pass a background check
• Interview with the admissions team
  

Tuition for this program is similar to that of a traditional state university, at $475 per credit hour. UMA offers students many financial aid options, including federal financial aid, grants, and scholarships for families of disabled or deceased veterans. You may also qualify for a monthly payment plan to make tuition more manageable.

With three stackable programs (skills certificate, professional certificate, associate degree), State Fair Community College allows students to start by learning basic pharmacy tech skills to test the waters and easily advance their careers if they wish.

State Fair Community College offers a unique stackable program that allows students to earn certificates starting with a basic pharmacy skills certificate, which still teaches enough to qualify students for the PTCB examination to quickly enter the workforce.

The basic pharmacy skills certificate is the best option if you want to start working immediately, or if you'd just like to try out the field to see if it is a good fit—you start small and work at your own pace, with the option to advance your career over time. The skills certificate (16 credit hours) prepares you to take the PTCE exam and earn the CPhT credential.

The professional certificate (31.5 credit hours) builds upon the skills certificate with professional practice experience and additional health courses, boosting your knowledge and employability.

The third step is a degree program (63.5 credit hours) that they call an "Associate in Health Care Specialist with Emphasis in Pharmacy Technician". The program includes more in-depth pharmacy courses, including human biology, advanced medical terminology, and other valuable additions to your pharmacy education. It also meets general education requirements.

You can choose to take the coursework for each step on-site or completely online. This is a great option for students who want to get a feel for the pharmacy field without committing to a full degree so they can keep their educational doors open. Because the programs are stackable, you can enroll in them sequentially without having to repeat classes or deal with transfer credits.

Students will be assigned to an unpaid externship by their class coordinator at a nearby hospital or commercial pharmacy. They will get 80-120 hours of valuable hands-on experience participating in daily pharmacy activities.

To be admitted into State Fair Community College, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have taken the ACT or ACCUPLACER tests within the last three years. The test scores are used to place you in the right level of math, reading, writing, and English classes. If you have already taken some college classes from an accredited institution and have earned a C or higher in any SFCC-equivalent math or English courses, these courses will be used to place you into the right class levels and you won't need the ACT or ACCUPLACER tests.

Unfortunately, tuition for non-Missouri residents is quite expensive at State Fair Community College (up to $317 per credit hour), but all students can apply for federal financial aid, scholarships, and private loans. State Fair prides itself on the number of its students that receive grants and scholarships.

Ashworth College helps you build a network, provides externships at Walgreens and CVS, and offers help after graduation with resumes and interviews, making it the best for job placement.

Ashworth College is affordable and has a robust network of career and professional support services for students, as well as partnerships with Walgreens and CVS for externships.

Ashworth College helps students stay connected with online access to an active network of peers and staff. Students can also receive guidance during the job application and interviewing process.

This pharmacy technician training program helps you build a network, provides externships at high-profile commercial pharmacies, and offers help after graduation with resumes and interviews, broadening your job placement opportunities.

The curricula prepare you for the two different nationally recognized pharmacy technician certification exams. These include the National Healthcareer Association's (NHA's) Examination for Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT), at the cost of $180, and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's (PTCB's) Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), at the cost of $183. Passing either exam will result in the designation of a CPhT. The school will cover the cost of the both the PTCE and the ExCPT, saving you in exam costs.

Additionally, Ashworth College has partnerships with CVS and Walgreens to place pharmacy technician students in 160-hour externship programs, a requirement to graduate from the program. This externship will provide invaluable skills as well as expand your network of pharmacy professionals before even leaving the program.

Another plus: This program is one of the most affordable pharmacy technician programs out there, with a flat fee of $1,199 if paid in full. The cost increases to $1,399 if you enroll in a monthly payment plan, which can be as low as $69 per month.

The coursework is all online, with the exception of the externship. Note that this program awards a career diploma, not a degree, so it’s not a good fit for those looking for an associate degree, and you cannot achieve certification or licensure in 10 states plus Washington, D.C..

There are no instructors and the curriculum is taught through self-directed videos, which works well for self-directed learners. This means you can enroll on any day of the year, but you won't have access to an instructor and classmates.

Still, the curriculum covers everything you need to know to succeed as a pharm tech, including medical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology, and more.If you do need help, academic advisors and tutors are always available.

You are definitely not left alone: All Ashworth College students get access to Ashworth’s career support network, which includes an exclusive job board, resume builder, online portfolio builder, career advice modules and videos, and professional email lists and newsletters.

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CVS offers a fast-tracked 120-day on-site pharmacy technician apprenticeship program. Trainees can get hands-on experience and get paid at the same time.

Pros & Cons

Want to skip the school part and start working right away? You can earn as you learn when you join the CVS pharmacy technician apprenticeship program! LearnRX is the best on-the-job training program for aspiring pharmacy techs.

To become part of the CVS LearnRX program, you must first apply and go through the recruiter and interview process to be hired as an employee—a cashier, stock associate, or other support roles—at CVS.

The program begins with a pre-screening of new hires and an invitation to apply. If you apply and are accepted into LearnRx, you’ll first undergo a “pre-apprenticeship,” which involves classroom training. Courses include an introduction to pharmacy basics, pharmacy workstations, and inventory management.

Then, you’ll complete a-120 day externship onsite at a CVS location (most likely the one where you're employed). You’ll work under the direct supervision of the location’s pharmacist and be coached and mentored by the entire team.

Once you complete the training, CVS offers materials and classes to help you prepare for certification exams. CVS will cover the costs for eligible participants to take the PTCE or ExCPT exam.

If you pass, you can then work as a pharmacy tech at CVS or apply for pharmacy technician jobs at other pharmacies and institutions. Extended programs and increasing levels of employment are also possible, but there are no requirements for LearnRX candidates to remain employed at CVS after the training is complete.

The pay for this apprenticeship varies among CVS locations, as the hourly wage is largely influenced by geographic location.

Apprentices must be 18 years or older by the end of their training because the national certifying boards require students to be 18 to take the exam.

For an affordable flat-rate fee and three payment plan options, Penn Foster’s pharmacy technician program prepares students to sit for two industry exams to become a certified pharmacy technician.

Penn Foster’s pharmacy technician program focuses on teaching you the essentials to start working quickly, at a price you can afford. You have access to interactive training modules and simulated experiences, for a comprehensive pharmacy tech training online experience. Training is complete, with preparation for two national certification exams and an on-site externship at a CVS, Walgreens, or Kroger pharmacy.

The cost of the PTCE and lab supplies are included in your tuition. You’ll start with basic classes like pharmacy technician orientation and career readiness. Then you'll transition to science courses, including pharmacology, body systems, pharmacy law and ethics, math calculations for drugs, sterile and non-sterile compounding, management and operations, and pharmacy billing and reimbursem*nt.

The externship consists of 130 working hours under the supervision of a pharmacist and takes four to 13 weeks to complete. Penn Foster provides assistance with externship placement, and the Externship Coordinator will work with CVS, Walgreens, or Kroger to place you at a site in your area.

Once you complete the externship, you can graduate from the program and sit for the PTCE or ExCPT. Tuition includes the exam costs for the PTCE.

This program is entirely self-paced, so students can enroll at any time and can work full- or part-time while completing the training program. However, students who aren’t self-directed or disciplined may struggle to complete the Penn Foster pharmacy technician training program.

The curriculum is offered through pre-recorded materials. Classes are comprehensive and consist of interactive online modules and simulations,

Penn Foster is a non-degree career diploma program that doesn’t participate in the United States Department of Education student aid programs, so students aren’t eligible for federal financial aid. However, Penn Foster does offer three affordable payment plans.

It's also important to note that this program does not meet licensing or accrediting requirements in three locations: Washington, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC.

Penn Foster's training program meets the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) requirements for accreditation. This accreditation is the national standard for pharmacy technician training programs, and is viewed favorably or required by employers.

This program is a good fit for students who want in-person training or need the flexibility of both in-person and online learning. It is designed for students who value hands-on training, personal instruction, and connecting and collaborating with others in the same academic year.

The North Dakota State College of Science is an academic institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The pharmacy programs are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

If you value face-to-face learning at a traditional college or university setting, consider earning your pharmacy technician certificate or associate degree at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). They provide hybrid training with both in-person and online learning.

You can choose to enroll in one of two available programs:

• The pharmacy technician certificate program
• The pharmacy technician-geared associate degree in applied science

Both programs include live video instruction combined with traditional in-person classes and labs taught by expert faculty at the Wahpeton, North Dakota campus.The program boasts small class sizes with low teacher-to-student ratios, ensuring a personalized experience.

Top-notch in-person academic faculty and interaction with in-person classmates can help develop friendships and skills beyond those offered in online-only formats.

NDSCS’s programs are far more structured than the other programs in this guide. They’re best for students who prefer the structure of traditional university learning environments, high accountability, and collaboration with instructors and classmates.

Both programs include eight weeks of externship in a community or institutional setting and prepare you to sit for either of the national pharmacy technician certification exams (PTCE and ExCPT).

Tuition and fees are higher as the traditional semester system is followed, with one- and two-year programs plus summer externships. Tuition is $156 per credit hour for North Dakota residents and more than $270 per credit hour for international students, which is less than the cost of traditional college tuition but not cheap.

There are also many options for financial aid. Grants, scholarships, work-study, and a unique student sponsorship program are available. Students who qualify for sponsorship may receive reduced tuition costs and guaranteed employment post-graduation.

If you don't live in or near North Dakota, you might consider looking for a college with a similar program. Many schools around the country offer similar pharmacy technician training, but NDSCS stands out thanks to its 100% job placement rate, according to 2022 data.

Students can complete this affordable and comprehensive online pharmacy technician training program complete with a Walgreens externship in as little as four months.

Earn your pharmacy technician certification in as little as four months with the U.S. Career Institute’s training program, which prepares you for both the PCTE and ExCPT exams and pays for one.

In addition to your online coursework, you can take advantage of the U.S. Career Institute’s partnership with Walgreens for an externship. The 80-hour hands-on training increases your employability as a new pharmacy technician.

This program is divided into five units, each covering a subset of critical knowledge you need to succeed as a pharmacy tech. You’ll learn about the pharmaceutical industry as a whole, medical terminology, pharmacy law and ethics, communication skills, drug pathways and interactions, vaccines, antimicrobial agents, pharmacy math, and much more.

All coursework is online, self-paced, and can even be accessed on your cell phone. It can be completed in as little as four to nine months. The more time you dedicate, the quicker you’ll finish.

Tuition for this program is more affordable than most. Pay a flat fee of $979 upfront, or enroll in a monthly payment plan. The costs of the payment plan include:

• Application fee of $29
• Down payment of $40
• Monthly payments of only $69

The total cost when using the payment plan is $1,279. U.S. Career Institute doesn’t offer financial aid, but students are eligible for military benefits.

It is also important to note that students living in Louisiana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington cannot be licensed with through this program.

Article Sources

• FVI School of Nursing and Technology. Externships in pharmacy tech programs and why they matter.
  

• National Pharmacy Technician Association. Certification.
  

• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. I want to be a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
  

• ‌Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. State regulations and map.