A pharmacy technician’s principal responsibility is to assist the pharmacist with the daily operations within an institutional, community, or home infusion pharmacy. From reviewing prescriptions for completion to procuring drugs and billing third parties, a pharmacy technician must be detailed oriented, good communicator, organized, and proficient in math to perform basic dosage calculations. The work is rewarding both personally and professionally. Pharmacy technician earn between $33,000 to $44,00p per year. Full-time and part-time positions are available. Pharmacy technicians working in institutional pharmacies may earn up to 40 percent
Cal State LA
The pharmacy technician program at Cal State LA is delivered online via Zoom. Students will learn online through engaging sessions with the instructor and other students. They will acquire knowledge and skills to work in retail pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, long-term care facilities, clinics, and hospitals. The program covers 50 hours of instruction covering the fundamental practices of the pharmacy technician field. Areas of study include laws and regulations, commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, scope of practice for pharmacy technicians, appropriate safety protocols, pharmacy information systems for inventory, billing and reimbursement, and calculating and converting quantities and dosages for prescription order entry and filling. The program’s log-in information and electronic course material including the syllabus will be sent to admitted students one week before the class start date. Graduates will receive a Certificate of Completion.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent – must have taken math and science in high school
- Must register by the stated deadline and pay for the class
The cost of the program is $1,399. Students must purchase the required textbook.
- Website: https://www.calstatela.edu/
- Address: 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
- Phone: (323) 343-4900
- Fax: (323)343-4954
Los Angeles Career College
The pharmacy technician program at Los Angeles Career College has a online option that prepares students for success on the National Pharmacy Technician Board Exam. Once admitted to the program, students will have access to the online platform for 356 days. Students will acquire knowledge and skills to perform in a specialized area and to work as part of a team to interact successfully with department or hospital personnel. Students will participate in an externship experience at a local Walgreens or CVS pharmacy. The externship must be completed before graduation. It gives students the opportunity to transition from classroom to the workplace. Graduates will be prepared to transcribe physicians’ orders, review new orders, fill prescriptions and medication orders, preparing unit dose and multi dose forms, generate labels, maintain stock, and prepare and label sterile solutions.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the externship
- A criminal background check may be required for participation in the pharmacy externship
- Must be proficient in basic mathematics and English
Tuition for the online program is $2,495. It includes access for 12 months along with ebooks and other course materials.
- Website: https://www.lacareercollege.com/
- Address: 6422 Bellingham Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91606
- Phone: 818-766-1111
Los Angeles Harbor College- Extension Program
The online pharmacy technician program at Los Angeles Harbor College will prepare students to sit for the PTCE offered by the PTCB. Students will acquire knowledge and skills to qualify for entry-level positions in community and institutional pharmacies. The curriculum covers 400 clock hours of instruction. Areas of study include federal and state laws that govern pharmacies, interpreting physicians’ orders and prescriptions, medical and pharmaceutical terms and common abbreviations, pharmacology of medications, processing insurance and billing and collecting payments, performing pharmaceutical calculations, and communicating successfully with patients and medical professionals. Students will participate in a 100+ hour pharmacy externship at a local Walgreens or CVS to gain real-world experience and transition from the classroom to the workplace.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the externship
- A criminal background check may be required for participation in the pharmacy externship
- Must be proficient in basic mathematics and English
Tuition costs $2,495 and includes a voucher for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://www.lahc.edu/
- Address: 1111 Figueroa Place, Extension Program, Wilmington, CA 90744
- Phone: 855-520-6806
Los Angeles Mission College
Los Angeles Mission College offers an online pharmacy technician program as well as an in-person program. Students enrolled in the online program must be present in person for the pharmacy technician externship. Instructors will cover the knowledge and skills needed to manage the handling and preparation of medications in both an outpatient and compounding pharmacy according to legal and ethical guidelines. Course modules include retail products for pharmacy clerk, introduction to pharmacy, body systems, pharmacy calculations, pharmacy operations, and community pharmacy externship. Upon completion of the theory (17.2 units), students will be eligible to enroll in the Community Pharmacy Externship (2.5 units) which covers 15.5 hours per week. Graduates will be prepared to take the national PTCB exam to become Certified Pharmacy Technicians. They have the option to complete additional general education units to earn an Associate in Science Degree Pharmacy Technician. Classes meet Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 am to 11:50 am for lectures and lab.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be able to pass a background check
- Must be proficient in mathematics and English
Tuition costs $46 per unit for California residents and $282 per unit for those out-of-state.
- Website: https://www.lamission.edu/default.aspx
- Address: 13356 Eldridge Avenue, Sylmar, CA 91342
- Phone: 818-364-7600
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University offers a self-paced online pharmacy technician program that includes interactive learning modules, round-the-clock mentoring, learning exercises, labs, and a student portal with career resources. The program covers pharmacy technician role and responsibilities, drug regulation and control, parenterals and compounding, basic biopharmaceutics, Total Parenteral Nutrition, factors affecting drug activity, drug regulation and control, information and pharmacy resources, routes and formulations, pharmacy calculations and math review, pharmacy technician certification and registration process, and brand names and generic drugs. Students will participate in an 80-hour clinical externship as part of the program to prepare for the transition from the classroom to work.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED to write the PTCB exam
- Must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the externship
- Must be able to pass a background check
Tuition for the program is $1,399. It includes an 80-hour clinical externship, six months of access to the self-paced program, all ebooks, workbooks, and related course material.
- Website: https://www.sfsu.edu/
- Address: 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132
- Phone: (888) 963-5967
American Career College
The hybrid/online pharmacy technician program at American Career College prepares students with the skills to assist pharmacists in real-life medical settings. The curriculum will cover drug fundamentals, revenue management cycles, procuring drugs, billing third parties, filling prescriptions, counting and measuring medication amounts, procedures and techniques used in the preparation of sterile products for both hospital and home care pharmacies and much more. Apart from training in the classroom, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills during the 320-hour pharmacy technician externship. Graduates will be prepared to take the PTCB for national certification. The duration of the program is 9 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be proficient in mathematics and reading comprehension
- Must pass a background check for the pharmacy externship
The program cost of $19,970 includes tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://new.americancareercollege.edu/
- Address: 4021 Rosewood Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90004
- Phone: 323-668-7555