There’s a growing demand for pharmacy technicians that is only expected to increase over the next decade. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate is projected to increase by 5 percent through 2031. Pharmacy technicians earned a median pay of $36,740 per year in 2021. With such a positive outlook, it is a great time to become a pharmacy technician. Online pharmacy technician programs offer flexibility and convenience to prepare for national certification as a pharmacy technician and success in the field. Like traditional programs, they cover the skills required for employment in retail and institutional pharmacies. Most programs grant 6 to 12 months of access to the online material and provide continuous support and opportunities to participate in a pharmacy externship at a local pharmacy. The externship allows for the application of theoretical concepts and smooths the transition from the online classroom to a real-world pharmacy.
Community College of Pennsylvania
The comprehensive online pharmacy technician course offered at Community College of Pennsylvania prepares adults for success on the PTCB exam. The content is delivered asynchronously online with access for six months. Theory comprises of 50 instructional hours. Areas of study include pharmacy medical terminology, dosage calculations, reading and interpreting, defining drugs by generic and brand names, federal and state laws that govern pharmacy, preparing and explaining the administration of medications, processing insurance and billing, and the advances in technology and research and how they impact pharmacy practice. Students who complete the didactic portion of the program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship with a local organization. An Externship Coordinator will coordinate placement. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the National PTCB to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
Admission criteria:
- Apply for admission to the program
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Complete a state and federal criminal background check – for the pharmacy externship
- Submit health records including immunization
- Complete a successful drug screen
Tuition and fees cost $1,299 for six months’ access to the online material.
- Website: https://www.ccp.edu/
- Address: 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Phone: 215-751-8000
Jevs Human Services (EduConnect)
JEVS EduConnect partners with Clarion University of Pennsylvania to offer a pharmacy technician certificate program. The program provides the flexibility of online learning with the benefit of support coaches who will guide students toward success. Students will learn how to interpret physician orders and prescriptions, prepare and explain the administration of medications, learn brand and generic names, drug classifications, and uses, process insurance billing and collect payments, manage inventory, and the differences between retail and hospital pharmacy settings. Graduates will be prepared to take a national pharmacy technician certification exam. Classes include flexible coursework and live online (synchronous) classes with the instructor 3 times per week. Students will attend in-person labs once monthly. The duration of the class is 12 weeks. Job placement assistance and direct pipeline employment are available for all graduates.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a valid photo ID and social security card
- Submit an application for the program
- Attend a program information session
- Must have a computer with access to the internet for live classes
Affordable scholarship opportunities are available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.jevshumanservices.org/
- Address: 1845 Walnut St 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Phone: (215) 854-1800
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
The online pharmacy technician program prepares students for the PTCB national certification exam. Students will learn federal and state laws that govern pharmacies, the ethics of pharmacy practice, the history, foundations and role of the pharmacy technician, pharmaceutical calculations and institutional pharmacy math to calculate dosages and dilutions, the science of pharmacology, the evolution of drugs, and administration of pharmacological agents, verbal and non-verbal methods of communication, insurance and inventory procedures, interactive lab for the retail and hospital settings, and cost analysis, purchasing procedures and record keeping. Students will complete a final comprehensive exam to qualify for the externship. The 100+ hour externship will be conducted at a national pharmacy chain. Graduates will be prepared to take the national PTCB exam. The duration of the program is one year.
Admission criteria:
- Apply for admission to the program
- Must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the externship
- Must have completed high school or equivalent
- Complete a state and federal criminal background check – for the pharmacy externship
- Submit health records including immunization
- Complete a successful drug screen
The program cost of $2,495 includes tuition, books, materials, supplies, externship, and a voucher for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://www.pennhighlands.edu/
- Address: 5580 Goods Lane, Altoona, PA 16602
- Phone: 1.888.385.7325 (PEAK)
- Alt: 814.201.2700