Pharmacy technicians are taking on more responsibilities than they did a few years ago. They are essential frontline workers, greeting and attending to patient needs. They also provide critical support to registered pharmacists by receiving and preparing prescription medication orders. The additional duties assigned to technicians means formal education is needed more than ever before. For the administration of vaccinations and the management of hazardous medications, technicians must be knowledgeable in all operations of the pharmacy. Online pharmacy technician program offerings are on the rise. They are designed for adult learners who need the convenience of online and self-paced study to prepare for entry into this industry without impacting their regular commitments. Online pharmacy technician programs are comprehensive and may even include a pharmacy externship for the application of acquired skills in real-world scenarios.
Community College of Baltimore County
The pharmacy technician program offered by CCBC includes coursework delivered online. Theory and hands-on activities prepare students for entry-level positions as a Certified Pharmacy Technician in various pharmacy settings. The curriculum covers a total of 145 course hours. Areas of study include basic math skills for healthcare workers, pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, pharmacy operations, inventory management, pharmacy laws and ethics, billing and insurance, and a pharmacy externship. Upon completion of the program, students will be awarded a Continuing Education Workforce Certification. They will be eligible to apply to sit for the PTCB exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The duration of the program is 12 full-time or 15 weeks part-time.
Admission criteria:
- Must have graduated from an accredited high school or equivalent.
- Must be computer literate and have access to the internet
- Must complete the immunization requirements including COVID vaccination
- Must have a grade C or better on the prerequisite courses – medical terminology for health occupations, anatomy and physiology, basic math for health care, HIPAA training, CPR for health care providers
Tuition for the program is $2,554. It includes the prerequisite coursework. Program fees cost an additional $1,891.
- Website: https://www.ccbcmd.edu/
- Address: 800 South Rolling Road, Baltimore, MD 21228
- Phone: 443.840.CCBC (2222)
Fortis
The pharmacy technician program at Fortis includes online modules. The program is designed to prepare students for national certification and entry-level employment in various pharmacy settings. Students will complete 780 clock hours of theory and hands-on activities including a pharmacy externship comprising of 180 clock hours. Course topics include introduction to health professions, medical terminology, fundamentals of pharmacy, mathematics for pharmacy technicians, drug classifications, medical anatomy and physiology, pharmacy practices and principles, intravenous admixtures and aseptic compounding, certification preparation and career development, and pharmacy externship. Students must complete 46 credit hours to graduate from the program. Graduates will receive a pharmacy technician diploma and be eligible to sit for the PTCB exam to become a certified pharmacy technician.
Admission criteria:
- Must have graduated from high school or have the recognized equivalent
- Must be at least 17 years of age
- Must submit an application for admission to the school
- Must schedule and attend an admissions interview
- Take and pass the Wonderlic SLE with a score of 13 or above
- Must sign the Enrollment Agreement
- Must complete a satisfactory background check
The program cost of $18,370 includes tuition, uniforms, fees, supplies, PTCB certification, drug screen, books, and background check.
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu/
- Address: 700 York Road, Towson, MD 21204
- Phone: (410) 337-5155
Gandhi Health Career Services
The online pharmacy technician program at Gandhi Health Career Services prepares students for success in the dispensing of prescription medications under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Students must complete all 108 clock hours of theory online before commencing the pharmacy externship which comprises of 160 clock hours at a local pharmacy. The externship sessions are 8 hours daily. Online coursework is delivered via Zoom and Google Classroom. Course topics include body systems, inventory management, pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, pharmacy law and ethics, generic and brand name drugs, IV solutions, medical terminology, and preparing and dispensing prescription medications. Students must have a 90% attendance rate and achieve a cumulative average of 80 percent on all quizzes and exams to graduate from the program. Graduates will receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to sit for the national PTCB exam or the state exam. The duration of the program is 10 weeks. Classes meet Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Some of the coursework will be delivered online via Zoom.
Admission criteria:
- Must submit a completed application with the non-refundable registration fee of $50
- Must have a valid state ID and social security card
- Must have completed high school or equivalent
- Must have current CPR certification – Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
- Must have up-to-date immunizations – including a negative TB skin test or negative chest x-ray – must not be more than 6 months old
- Must be declared physically able to perform the duties of a pharmacy technician
- Must have a Hepatitis B vaccine or signed waiver
- Must submit documentation of full COVID Vaccination
- Must have personal health insurance coverage or sign a waiver form
Tuition for the program is $1,700. The textbook costs $150 and registration is $150.
- Website: https://gandhihealthcare.com/
- Address: 404 Reisterstown, RD, Pikesville, MD 21208
- Phone: 443-352-8030
- Fax: 443-660-8030
Stein Academy
Stein Academy offers an online pharmacy technician program to prepare students for national certification. The program is approved by the Maryland Board of Pharmacy and covers 260 hours of theory, lab, and externship activities. Upon completion of the theory, students will participate in 160-hours of Board and State mandated externship at a local pharmacy. Areas of study include pharmacy billing and software, reading and interpreting prescriptions, body systems, management of inventory, pharmacology, dosage calculations, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmacy operations, IV preparation, sterile compounding, and customer service. Graduates will be eligible to apply for the national PTCB Exam. The duration of the program is 15 weeks including the 4-week pharmacy externship.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 17 years or older at the start of class
- Must have completed an accredited high school or equivalency
- Must provide a photo ID and social security card
- Must provide documentation of negative TB test
- Must be in good physical health – physician report required
- Must obtain a clear drug screen
- Must have and maintain health insurance
- Must have a computer and reliable internet
- Must provide record of current immunizations
- Must have current CPR certification – BLS for Healthcare Providers
The program cost of $2,625 includes tuition and lab fee. The registration fee is $50. Expenses for uniform, books, and clinical supplies are additional.
- Website: https://www.steinacademy.com/
- Address: 3610 Milford Mill Road, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21244
- Phone: 410-922-4910
- Fax: 410-922-4911
All-State Career
Some of the required courses of the pharmacy technician program at All-State Career many be taken online. The curriculum includes theory and hands-on learning to train and develop qualified pharmacy technicians capable of adhering to the pharmacy standards and assisting the pharmacist with patient care. Students will acquire a solid education in the fundamentals of pharmacy and pharmacy terminology. Hands-on training will be conducted in various pharmacy settings including a hospital, retail, compounding, mail-order pharmacy and long-term care. The curriculum covers a total of 780 instructional hours. Course topics include computer applications, medical terminology, medical anatomy and physiology, electronic health recods, fundamentals of pharmacology, mathematics for pharmacy technicians, drug classification systems, pharmacy practice and principles, pharmacology for pharmacy technicians, IV admixtures and aseptic compounding. Students will participate in a pharmacy externship that is designed for the application of knowledge and skills to real-life scenarios in the health care setting. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the PTCB exam. The duration of the program is 36 weeks. Morning and evening schedules are available.
Admission criteria:
- Must be a high school graduate or have the recognized equivalent
- Must be at least 17 years of age
- Must complete an applicant information form
- Must attend an interview with admission representative or other administrative staff
- Must submit acceptable Wonderlic SLE scores – 13 or above
- Must agree to and sign the All-State Career Enrollment Agreement
- Must obtain a clear background check
The program cost of $17,464 includes tuition, books, fees, uniforms, national certification, and background check.
- Website: https://www.allstatecareer.edu/
- Address: 2200 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224
- Phone: 410-631-2742
Towson University
The online pharmacy technician program at Towson University is self-paced for adult learners. Students will acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities for entry-level employment in various pharmacy settings. The curriculum requires completion of 400 instructional hours including a virtual externship. Course topics include history, foundations and roles, terminology – body systems, terminology words and abbreviations, reference materials, community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, introduction to law, ethics, liability, controlled substances, state laws, safety laws, dosage calculations, business math, parenteral doses, IV flow rates, and oral medications and reconstitutions. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the national PTCB exam. Students will have access to the online program for 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must be proficient in typing and understand word processing. Typing speed should be at least 35 words per minute
- Must have a good command of English grammar and high school math
- Must have a video camera on phone or other device
- Must have a computer and access to the internet
The program cost of $2,999 includes tuition, course materials, access to PTCB practice tests, and a voucher for the certification exam.
- Website: https://www.towson.edu/
- Address: 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252
- Phone: 410-704-2000
Baltimore Allied Health Training Center
The online pharmacy technician program offered by Baltimore Allied Health Training Center is convenient for those who want to prepare for a career as a pharmacy technician on their own schedule. The coursework is delivered fully-online and covers that fundamentals of the role of function of the pharmacy technician in various settings. Course topics include orientation to pharmacy, pharmacy terminology, anatomy and physiology, dosage calculations, pharmacy laws and ethics, introduction to law, geriatric patients, parenteral doses, controlled substances, hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy, billing and insurance, inventory control, and pharmacy software. Students will participate in an externship at Walgreens after passing the program. Graduates will be eligible to sit for PTCB Exam and may register with the state of Maryland to become a licensed pharmacy technician. The duration of the program is 12 weeks. The externship is an additional 4 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a computer and reliable internet
- A background check is required for the pharmacy externship
The program cost of $1,800 includes weekly online quizzes and books. A payment plan is available.
- Website: http://www.bahtc2.com/index.html
- Address: 90 Painters Mill Road, Suite 134 Owings Mills, MD
- Phone: (443) 522.9396
- Email: Maurice@bahtc.com
Carroll Community College
The Pharmacy Technician Workforce Training Certificate at Carroll Community College includes an interactive virtual component. The curriculum covers approximately 105 hours of theory and hands-on practice in a fully equipped mock pharmacy stocked with equipment and the top 200 drugs. Students will learn the practice of pharmacy, pharmaceutical calculations, dosage unit conversions, controlled substances, medical terminology, pharmacy law, regulations, and ethics. Other areas of study include aseptic techniques, sterile and non-sterile compounding, medication safety, inventory management, pharmacy equipment, and OSHA regulations. Graduates are prepared to take the national PTCB exam. The duration of the program is 3 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a strong foundation in math and computer concepts
The program cost of $1,500 covers tuition only. Students must purchase books and pay for any prerequisite courses.
- Website: https://www.carrollcc.edu/Home/
- Address: 1601 Washington Road, Westminster, MD 21157
- Phone: 410-386-8000
- Toll-Free: 1-888-221-9748