Pharmacy technician is a great career option if you wish to work in the healthcare industry but don’t want an active role in patient care. Pharmacy technicians work with pharmacists to receive, interpret, prepare, and dispense medication for patients. They also manage many of the administrative functions within the pharmacy. Preparation for success in the industry is essential. You should complete a post-secondary program since it is required by most employers. An online pharmacy technician program provides some flexibility to learn while maintaining your other life commitments. The program will provide all the support of a traditional on-campus program including the ability to participate in hands-on activities through virtual pharmacy software. Most online programs include an optional pharmacy externship to build your confidence in a real-world setting.
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin facilitates an online pharmacy technician program that prepares students for success on a national certification exam. They will acquire knowledge and skills to start a career as a pharmacy technician. Online delivery of coursework gives students the flexibility to study on their own schedule while instilling the confidence that they will acquire the skills needed to succeed. Apart from the online coursework, students will participate in a pharmacy externship to gain hands-on experience. The externship will be conducted at a pharmacy within the student’s community. The program consists of 49.2 CEUs. Course modules include body systems, pharmacy calculations, inventory management, billing and insurance, receiving and processing prescriptions, and laws that govern the operations of pharmacies. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the national PTCE exam. The program is open enrolment.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a computer and a reliable connection to the internet
- Must be at least 18 years old to participate in the pharmacy externship
- The pharmacy externship may require criminal background clearance and a satisfactory urine drug screen
The cost of the program is $4,199.
- Website: https://uwm.edu/
- Address: 2200 East Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53211
- Phone: 414-229-2222
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
The pharmacy technician program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is offered as a blend of online and face-to-face program. A fully online option is also available for students’ convenience. The program is offered in cooperation with technical colleges college across Wisconsin. It includes general studies courses conducted online and technical courses that will be delivered through LTC-Cleveland. Students will learn how to package and label drugs for processing prescriptions, prepare and deliver unit does to the nursing services, receive and inventory drug shipments, prepare parenteral admixtures under aseptic and sterile conditions, maintain records, compound solutions, and understand medical terminology. Laboratory training will be conducted at local pharmacies. Students will conclude the program by participating in a 4-week pharmacy externship.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must complete an admission assessment
- Must submit Campass/ACT scores to develop an educational plan
The estimated program cost of $5,443 includes tuition, books, and supplies. The cost of tuition is calculated based on in-state residency.
- Website: https://www.nwtc.edu/
- Address: 2740 West Mason St. Green Bay, WI 54303
- Phone: 920-498-5444
Mid-State Technical College
The online live or hybrid/blended pharmacy technician program at Mid-State Technical College prepares students with the training needed to assist registered pharmacists with the preparation of medications, record keeping, distribution of medications, and much more. Core courses will be delivered via video conference hosted by LTC. Courses include medical terminology, health insurance and reimbursement, pharmacy law, pharmacology, pharmacy business applications, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy drug distributions, pharmacy computer lab, pharmacy parenteral admixtures, and interpersonal communication. Students will use pharmacy software to build patient profiles and interpret and enter prescriptions. They will participate in a clinical experience at a local pharmacy. The program requires completion of 32 credit hours. The duration of the program is one year.
Admission criteria:
- Must complete an LTC application form and pay the non-refundable application fee of $30
- Must complete the Accuplacer or ACT test and meet the required test scores
- Must complete a background information disclosure form and submit $16 for the background check
- Must complete the health form and immunization requirements
- Must sign the sign-off sheet for the Pharmacy Technician Program Handbook
The total estimated program cost of $5,959.62 includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, uniforms, and exams.
- Website: https://www.mstc.edu/
- Address: 1001 Centerpoint Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481
- Phone: 888.575.6782
New Beginnings Adult Learning Center
The pharmacy technician program offered at New Beginnings includes an online-only options for students’ convenience. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the role and function of a pharmacy technician within a community pharmacy. Students will learn drug and dosage calculations, pharmacy terminology, prescription processing, pharmacy laws, generic and brand names of medications, aseptic techniques, and safety in the pharmacy. The option to participate in a pharmacy externship will be available. Graduates will be prepared for success on the PTCB exam. The program must be completed within the 6-week timeframe.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a computer and a reliable connection to the internet
- Must be at least 18 years old to participate in the pharmacy externship
- The pharmacy externship may require criminal background clearance and a satisfactory urine drug screen
The program cost of $3,540 includes textbook, uniform, tuition, practice and certification exam, and quizzes and exams.
- Website: https://www.newbeginningsalc.com/
- Address: 7720 W Burleigh St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53222
- Phone: 414-635-7381
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The pharmacy technician program at the University of Wisconsin is delivered fully online. It is designed to prepare students for success on the PTCB exam. Students will develop knowledge and skills to excel as a pharmacy technician. They will learn federal and state laws that govern pharmacies, medication processing, identification of medication orders, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and ethics of pharmacy practice. Course modules include orientation to pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmacy law and ethics, communication skills, pharmaceutical calculations, lab module, insurance and inventory procedures, a clinical rotations. Students will be eligible to participate in a 100-hour externship at a local pharmacy after completing and passing the final exam.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a computer and a reliable connection to the internet
- Must be at least 18 years old to participate in the pharmacy externship
- The pharmacy externship may require criminal background clearance and a satisfactory urine drug screen
Tuition for the program is $2,995 and includes a voucher for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://ce.uwec.edu/
- Address: 103 Garfield Avenue, Eau Claire WI 54701
- Phone: 715-836-3636
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Some of the coursework required in the pharmacy technician program at MATC may be delivered online. The curriculum includes theory and hands-on coursework designed to prepare students for employment in various pharmacy settings. Course topics include communication, culture of healthcare, medical terminology, digital literacy for healthcare, orientation to pharmacy operations, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy clinical experience, federal laws, ethics and customer service, introduction to drug classification, institutional pharmacy practice, pharmacy operations, community pharmacy lab, sterile solutions, and psychology of human relations. The program requires completion of 30 credit hours. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the PTCB exam. Full-time and part-time schedules are available.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years old at the completion of the program
- Must attend a program orientation session
- Must have one year of high school algebra
- Must satisfy the background check requirements
- Apply for admission to the program and pay the admission fees
Tuition and fees cost $2,809 per semester for full-time, resident students.
- Website: https://www.matc.edu/index.html
- Address: 700 W. State Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233
- Phone: (414) 297-MATC (6282)
- Toll Free: (800) 720-6282