There’s no slowing down in the need for pharmacy technicians to assist pharmacists in retail and institutional pharmacies. There were 447,300 pharmacy technician jobs in 2021. Approximately 22,400 new jobs will be added each year across the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist in hospitals, home infusion pharmacies, community pharmacies, long-term care settings, and other healthcare settings. Online pharmacy technicians are similar to traditional on-campus pharmacy technician programs. They cover the theoretical instruction online followed by an in-person pharmacy technician externship at a community or institutional pharmacy. Students will learn pharmacy medical terminology, inventory management, reading and interpreting prescriptions, pharmacology, pharmacy laws and regulations, and pharmacy calculations. Upon completion of the online pharmacy technician program, you will be prepared to sit for a national certification exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
JVS Boston
The pharmacy technician program at JVS Boston includes some online modules for students’ convenience. The program is open to adults seeking a career as a pharmacy technician. It includes intensive preparation for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, Students will also learn the responsibilities of the pharmacy technician in retail and institutional pharmacies. Course topics include pharmacy mathematics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacy law, pharmacy basics, professional communication, and professional development. Students will receive an externship placement at one of the participating externship partners, such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, CVS, Boston Children’s Hospital, South Shore Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, Walgreens, and Dana Faber Cancer Institute. The duration of the program is 12 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must be fluent or have strong English skills
- Must attend an information session
- Must have a desire to work as a pharmacy technician in a retail or hospital setting
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Must not be enrolled in full-time college classes
- Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
- Must commit to attending all classes and externship shifts and full-time employment for 6 months to a year following graduation from the program
- Must complete a CORI, criminal background check and drug screen
- Must be a good listener and detail-oriented
The training is free for all students.
- Website: https://www.jvs-boston.org/
- Address: 75 Federal Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02110
- Phone: 617-399-3131
Bunker Hill Community College
Students enrolled in the pharmacy technology program at Bunker Hill Community College will learn through online sessions and live classes on campus. The theory and practical training are designed to equip students with the skills to assist pharmacists with the distribution of prescription medications. Experienced faculty will cover packaging of drugs, inventory control, customer service, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy operations, pharmacology, and pharmacy law. Students will participate in a pharmacy externship at a community pharmacy where they will apply the skills developed in preparation for the workplace. Graduates will receive a certificate of completion and are eligible to apply to sit for the national certification exam. New students are admitted in the fall and spring semesters. The program is designed to be completed in one semester.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent – applicants must submit transcripts or GED/HiSet report
- Must attend a mandatory Allied Health Information session
- Must take and pass the College Placement Test
- Place higher than ENG-095 or complete with a grade C or higher
- Must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check for placement at the clinical site
Tuition costs $230 per credit. Boston residents may be eligible for free tuition.
- Website: https://www.bhcc.edu/
- Address: 250 New Rutherford Avenue · Boston, Massachusetts 02129
- Phone: (617) 228-2000
Middlesex Community College
The pharmacy technician program at Middlesex Community College is offered online with an in-person pharmacy externship. The program covers a total of 60 hours of classes led by an experienced instructor followed by an 80-hour externship in an actual pharmacy setting. Course topics include pharmacy law, pharmacy operations, medical abbreviations, pharmacological calculations, interpreting drug orders, the top 100 prescriptions, routes of administration, regulations, and medical dosage forms. The externship gives students real world experience in a retail pharmacy to reinforce the topics learned in the classroom. Students will acquire practical knowledge on the interview process and what employers are seeking in a candidate. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification exam to become PTCB certified. Classes meet online on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Strong maths, spelling, and reading skills are recommended. Useful foundational work for the course include high school chemistry, algebra, and English
- Must take a MCC Math Assessment test – a waiver is available for applicants who provide a transcript indicating high school math with a C or better
- Submit to a CORI & SORI background check with MCC
- Must apply for and receive a Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician in Training License before the externship
- Submit to a drug test prior to the start of the optional externship
Tuition for the program is $1,650. Textbooks cost an additional $125.91.
- Website: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/
- Address: 33 Kearney Square, Lowell, MA 01852
- Toll Free: 1-800-818-3434
North Shore Community College
The pharmacy technician program at North Shore Community College includes some online classes. Students will receive the knowledge and skills to obtain entry-level employment in a community or institutional pharmacy. Areas of study include the history of pharmacy, pharmacy calculations, and measurements, defining drugs by generic and brand names, drug classifications, reading and interpreting prescriptions, medical terminology, and pharmacy practice in multiple settings. Other topics are IV flow rates, inventory control, handling sterile products, dose conversions, total parenteral nutrition, and sterile compounding. Students will participate in a 40-hour clinical externship at the conclusion of the program. Graduates will be prepared to take the PTCB exam for national certification. The duration of the program is 10 weeks. Day and evening schedules are available. The class size is limited.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent or currently enrolled as a high school student in good standing
- Must be at least 18 years of age to become licensed
- Complete a CORI/SORI check – at least two weeks before class starts
- Provide proof of immunizations and a negative TB test
- Complete a satisfactory drug screen
Tuition for the program is $1,299.
- Website: https://www.northshore.edu/
- Address: McGee Building 300 Broad Street Lynn, MA 01901
- Phone: (781) 593-6722
Roxbury Community College
The pharmacy technician program at Roxbury Community College is offered in hybrid format. The curriculum covers 130 hours of instruction and introduces students to the theoretical knowledge and hands-on training necessary to work in retail, hospitals, and fulfilment. Course topics include the history of medicine, pharmacy terminology, prescription processing, compounding, inventory management, and state and federal pharmacy regulation. The theoretical requirements will be delivered online via Zoom sessions. Students will complete a pharmacy externship at a community pharmacy to apply the principles learned in the classroom. Graduates will take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification (PTCB) Exam and a final exam approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy. Successful candidates will be eligible to register as Pharmacy Technicians. The duration of the program is 24 weeks. Classes meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED/HiSET
- Complete an Accuplacer Assessment
- Must have current COVID-19 vaccination
The cost of the program is $1,800 and includes the PTCB exam fee. It does not include books.
- Website: https://www.rcc.mass.edu/
- Address: 1234 Columbus Avenue, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
- Phone: (617) 427-0060
Quincy College
The hybrid pharmacy technician program at Quincy College is open to anyone seeking employment in the pharmacy technician field. The curriculum covers 120 in-class hours and 80 required unpaid externship hours to prepare students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam to become Certified Pharmacy Technicians. The program covers medical and pharmaceutical terminology, principles of pharmacology and pharmaceuticals, drug identification, pharmacy lab procedures, prescription interpretation, patient communication and education, safety procedures, record-keeping, measurement and testing techniques, pharmacy business operations, prescription preparation, logistics and dispensing operations, and standards and regulations. Students must attend a minimum of 80% of the program to graduate. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the PTCB exam. Classes meet Tuesdays (in-person) and Wednesdays (online).
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma, or HiSET, or GED
- Must complete a background check (CORI)
- Must complete drug screening
- Provide proof of immunization including a negative TB test
Tuition costs $1,150. Qualified students may be eligible for funding to cover all program costs.
- Website: https://quincycollege.edu/
- Address: 1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA. 02169
- Phone: 617-984-1700
Quinsigamond Community College
The pharmacy technician program at QCC includes 50% or more of online content. Students will acquire knowledge and skills for entry-level employment as a certified pharmacy technician in community, hospital, home care, and long-term care settings. The program will cover the laws of pharmacy practice, drug names and classification, compounding, calculations, abbreviations, and dosage forms. Students will also learn communication and interview skills and pharmacy technician duties. They will perform 135 hours of externship at a local pharmacy to gain practical experience in the field. The duration of the program is two semesters.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED/HiSET
- Must show evidence of being compliant with the immunization requirements specific by the MA Department of Public Health
- Must complete CORI and SORI and National Background checks
- Must complete fingerprinting and drug testing
- Must be in satisfactory health
- Submit evidence of positive Hepatitis B antibody titer
- Must take the College Placement Test to determine mathematics and English levels
Tuition for the program is $205 per credit for Massachusetts residents. Students should budget for clinical uniforms, clinical parking fees, and materials.
- Website: https://www.qcc.edu/
- Address: 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606
- Phone: 508.853.2300
Elms College
The online pharmacy technician program at Elms College is 100 percent online. It is designed for students to cultivate the skills needed to support pharmacists in various pharmacy settings. Students will also be prepared for success on the PTCB exam. Course topics include orientation to pharmacy, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology, communication skills, insurance and inventory procedures, lab module, clinical rotations, and final exam. Graduates may be eligible to complete a 100+ hour externship at a national pharmacy chain. The duration of the program is one year.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a computer and access to the internet
The program cost of $2,995 includes tuition, materials, and a voucher for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://www.elms.edu/
- Address: 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013-2839
- Phone: 413-594-2761