Pharmacy technicians are vital members of the healthcare team. They assist pharmacists with the distribution of medication and health care supplies. They work in diverse settings such as hospitals, clinics, and community pharmacies, performing vital functions related to the care and management of patients and medication therapy. Duties include preparing sterile medications, operating pharmacy automation systems, receiving and preparing prescriptions, managing the inventory of supplies, and obtaining medication histories. Online pharmacy technician programs provide a fast and convenient means to prepare for the role of a pharmacy technician. While most of the coursework will be delivered online, you may need to complete an in-person practical session to apply the knowledge in a real-world environment.
Tennessee State University
The online pharmacy technician program offered by the Continuing Education Department at Tennessee State University prepares students for entry-level employment in community or institutional pharmacies. The comprehensive 50-hour exam will prepare students for success on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam. Course content includes medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, reading and interpreting prescriptions and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Students will also learn dosage calculations, I.V. flow rates, drug compounding, dose conversions, dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control and billing and reimbursement. At the conclusion of the program, graduates will receive a Pharmacy Technician Certificate and be eligible to apply to sit for the PTCB to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age upon admission
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be able to perform basic calculations
- Must pass a criminal background and drug to sit for the PTCB exam
The program cost of $999 includes the cost of textbooks.
- Website: https://www.tnstate.edu/index.aspx
- Address: 3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37209
- Phone: (615) 963-5000
Fortis Institute
The hybrid Pharmacy Technician program at Fortis Institute offers students the convenience of completing a part of the coursework online. The program will cover a total of 780 clock hours or 46 quarter credit hours. Students learn how to read, fill, and dispense prescriptions, as well as the legal responsibilities of record maintenance and the handling of various drug categories. Course topics include pharmacy calculations, medications, common drug interactions and their side effects, pharmaceutical agents, customer service, billing and insurance, pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology, and inventory management. Graduates will receive a Pharmacy Technician Diploma and be eligible to take the PTCB exam. The duration of the program is 36 weeks. Day and evening schedules are available. Day classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Evening classes meet Monday through Thursday from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Must be a high school graduate or have a recognized equivalent
- Must be 17 years or older at the time of admission
- Submit a completed application form
- Take the Wonderlic SLE and achieve a passing score of 11 or above
- Must be able to meet the program’s financial obligations
- Must agree to and sign the Fortis Institute Enrollment Agreement
- Must submit to and pass a criminal background check
- Present documentation of current Hepatitis B injections I and II and a TB test within an acceptable timeframe
- Must submit to and pass a drug screen
The program cost of $18,370 includes the enrollment fee, uniforms, textbooks, student kit, and certification fee. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu/
- Address: 1025 Hwy. 111 Cookeville, TN 38501
- Phone: (931) 526-3660
Vol State Community College
The 100% online pharmacy technician program at Vol State Community College prepares students for entry-level employment as a pharmacy technician. Students will learn federal and state laws that govern pharmacies, as well as the ethics of pharmacy practice. They will be fully prepared to sit for the National Certification exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). The curriculum covers a total of 400 course hours – not including the clinical hours. Graduates will be eligible to apply for a 100+ hour externship at a national pharmacy chain. Course topics include orientation to pharmacy, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology, communication skills, insurance and inventory procedures, lab modules, clinical rotations, and final exam. The program is open admissions. Students will have access to the online course for 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Provide proof of completing high school or GED
- Must complete a national criminal background check – to participate in the clinical externship
- Must meet the technology requirements to access the online program.
Tuition for the program is $2,995 and includes textbooks, course materials, and a voucher for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://www.volstate.edu/
- Address: 1480 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066
- Phone: (615) 452-8600
Nashville State Community College
The pharmacy technician program offered by the Continuing Education Department at Nashville State Community College is fully online. Students will cover a total of 400 clock hours of coursework in the self-paced program. They will be prepared to assist the pharmacist in the packing and distribution of medication. The program includes didactic and hands-on training to develop the skills necessary for employment in the field. There will be an emphasis on medical and pharmaceutical terminology, basic anatomy related to the pharmacology of medications, and pharmaceutical calculations. An online lab module will incorporate hands-on practice in retail pharmacy procedures. Students will learn how to process prescriptions and physician orders and apply that knowledge to fill mock prescriptions. Course topics include orientation to pharmacy, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology, communication skills, insurance and inventory procedures, lab modules, clinical rotations, and final exam. Upon completion of this course, graduates will be prepared to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). They will also have the option to perform a hands-on, 100-hour Practicum Experience.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Provide proof of completing high school or GED
- Must complete a national criminal background check – to participate in the clinical externship
- Must meet the technology requirements to access the online program.
Tuition for the program is $2,995 and includes textbooks, course materials, and a voucher for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://careertraining.ed2go.com/workforce/
- Address: 120 White Bridge Road, Nashville, TN 37209
- Phone: 855.520.6806
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy offers a comprehensive online pharmacy technician program in partnership with the Therapeutic Research Center. The program features easy-to-use, engaging multimedia courses designed for technicians of all levels, self-paced modules divided into short parts, knowledge checks and learning activities for interactive learning, web-based training for access from any internet-connected computer, preparation for the PTCE exam, and a curriculum that supports various learning modalities. Course topics include PTU orientation, the role of the pharmacy technician, drug information resources, laws affecting prescription dispensing, drug regulation and control, controlled substances, restricted drug programs, state laws and regulations, pharmaceutical terminology, medication safety, communication, introductory calculations, measurement calculations, dosage calculations, basic pharmaceutics, pharmacology, infectives, natural medicines, and prescription preparation. The program is open to both current and aspiring pharmacy technicians. It covers a total of 165 clock hours. It is designed to be completed in 12 weeks. Access will expire 6 months from the learner’s launch date.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Provide proof of completing high school or GED
- Must complete a national criminal background check – to participate in the clinical externship
- Must meet the technology requirements to access the online program
The cost of tuition is $1,800. A voucher for the PTCB exam is included.
- Website: https://www.uthsc.edu/
- Address: Memphis, Tennessee 38163
- Phone: 901.448.5500
Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Murfreesboro Campus
The online pharmacy technician program at the Tennessee College of Applied Science prepares students for employment as a entry-level pharmacy technician. The curriculum includes classroom lectures, skills lab, and pharmacy technician externship in an established pharmacy. The program is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). The curriculum covers 864 clock hours of theory and practical instruction. Course topics include pharmacy calculations, sterile and non-sterile compounding, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmacology, trade and generic names for common drugs, pharmacy practice, dispensing prescriptions, and computerized systems. Graduates will receive a diploma and will be eligible to apply to take the PTCB’s exam for CPhT certification. The duration of the program is 8 months. Classes meet Monday through Friday from 7:45 am to 2:30 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Complete the TCAT – Murfreesboro application for admission
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Provide proof of required immunization
- Take and pass the HESI
- Take and pass a criminal background check
- Submit to drug testing
Tuition for the program is $4,374. It includes the cost for fees, textbooks, and supplies.
- Website: https://tcatmurfreesboro.edu/
- Address: 1303 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
- Phone: 615-898-8010
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The online pharmacy technician program at Vanderbilt includes online learning modules combined with clinical rotations at several VUMC sites. Students will participate in hands-on activities (approximately 8 hours per work) in the school’s onsite lab to develop the skills needed to practice in a community and institutional pharmacy. The clinical rotations will span a period of 4 weeks – 40 hours each week for a total of 160 hours. Course topics include an introduction to pharmacy, pharmacology for technicians, career development, principle of pharmacy operations, pharmacy simulation lab, and pharmacy technician rotation I and II. The duration of the program is 12 weeks. Graduates must pass the PTCB prior to the end of the program to be eligible for a permanent position with VUMC.
Admission criteria:
- Must provide proof of US citizenship, permanent resident status, or eligibility to study in the US
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalency
- Submit a completed application and non-refundable registration fee of $50
- Submit a current resume
- Provide three references
- Submit a personal essay detailing desire to become a pharmacy technician
- Must provide proof of immunization including COVID-19
- Must clear a criminal background check and drug screen
The program provides a paid-to-learn opportunity. Students will receive an hourly rate of $16.50 per hour for 12 weeks. Textbooks, BOP registration, and a PTCE voucher will be provided. Students must cover expenses for a laptop, gray scrubs, supplies, and transportation.
- Website: https://www.vumc.org/
- Address: 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37232
- Phone: (615) 322-5000