
Oregon’s pharmacy technicians are some of the highest paid in the nation. The national average rate of pay was $36,740 annually, according to a 2021 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pharmacy technicians in Portland, OR earned a median annual pay of $47,180 yearly for that same period. There is a growing need for pharmacy technicians in community and institutional pharmacies to dispense prescription medications to seniors. The prevalence of chronic diseases, demand for more prescription medications, and technological advances in the health care industry will drive demand for health care employees, including pharmacy technicians. If you’re considering a career as a pharmacy technician, you can enroll in a pharmacy technician program and prepare for national certification. Certification is a requirement for practice in Oregon. Fortunately, there are numerous online and hybrid pharmacy technician programs from which you can choose to prepare for entry-level employment.
Portland Community College – Institute for Health Professionals
The Institute for Health Professionals’ Pharmacy Technician program combines online lectures with hands-on, weekly onsite lab practicums. The program will provide students with a broad knowledge base to prepare them to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. The two-part course comprises of 160 hours. Students will learn practicing pharmacy, pharmacy law, and regulations, practical and administrative standards, basic pharmacology, drug references, and information systems, basic to advanced pharmacy measurements, generic to advanced pharmacy measurements, abbreviations and calculations, and requirements for pass the PTCB exam. During term two, students will focus on pharmacology, processing and handling medication and medication orders, sterile and non-sterile compounding, sterile preparation, and aseptic techniques, patient safety, medication safety, quality assurance, workplace interaction, professionalism, and test-taking strategies that will prepare students for board certification. Internship and career planning opportunities are available to students through referral to PCC’s Carer Pathways. Career planning will be facilitated during Term II of the program. Students will complete a resume, develop a networking plan, and prepare for non-technical aspects of the internship and employment. Students will complete an externship or internship immediately after completing the pharmacy technician program. It will comprise of 120 hours with supported with coaching. The program will take approximately 6 months to complete.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years when the class begins
- Must have completed high school completion or GED – a college or university degree can substitute
- Attend an information session to learn more about the program requirements
- Provide documentation of completing MATH 95 and Writing 115 or above
- Submit an essay that answers: What does a pharmacy technician do and why do you want to be a pharmacy technician? AND Imagine you have a patient who is very upset when you inform them that their insurance doesn’t cover their medication. How would you handle the situation?
- Submit a completed application with all documents
- Must pass a background check and drug screen
The program cost of $3,140 does not include the cost of textbooks. The tuition must be paid during registration. Applicants have the option to set up a 3-month payment plan with the PCC Business Office.
- Website: https://www.pcc.edu/
- Address: 5600 NE 42nd, Portland, OR 97218
- Phone: 1-866-922-1010
Central Oregon Community College
The online pharmacy technician program at Central Oregon Community College includes online delivery of all academic classes so it can be completed anywhere. Students will attend the Bend COCC campus twice a term during the fall and winter terms to complete labs. During the spring term, students will complete the practicums in their home community. The program’s curriculum was developed using accreditation standards of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Students will develop a working knowledge of standards of practice, quality assurance, patient confidentiality, and communication skills. Course topics include medical terminology, anatomy and functions of the human body, therapeutic classification and drug names, pharmacy procedures, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy law, and interpersonal communications. Graduates will be prepared to take the national certification exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician as required b the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.
Admission criteria:
- Must apply to COCC
- Take the placement test and/or submit transcript to admissions and records
- Must complete new student advising
- Complete the online orientation
- Complete the prerequisite courses – Basic Mathematics or higher, Rhetoric and Critical Thinking II, and Essentials of Human Biology
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Submit proof of immunization, criminal history check, and drug screening through VCI by the due date indicated
- Must be 18 years of age
The enrolment fee is $200 per term. Other costs include immunization, drug screening, background check, immunization tracking, CPR certification, and travel costs and expenses to campus and clinical sites.
- Website: https://www.cocc.edu/
- Address: 2600 N.W. College Way, Bend, Oregon 97703
- Phone: 541-383-7700
Carrington College
The blended pharmacy technology certificate program at Carrington College includes online delivery of the general education courses and some of the core pharmacy technology coursework. The curriculum covers 840 clock hours of theory, lab, and pharmacy externship. Course modules include Nervous System, Anti-Infectives and Retail Operations Theory, Retail Operations Lab, Prescription Processing, Pharmacy Software and Pharmacy Calculations Theory, Prescription Processing and Pharmacy Calculations Lab, Pharmacy Calculations, Body Systems, and Repacking Theory, Pharmacy Calculations and Unit Dose Lab, Compounding and Body Systems Theory, Hospital Operations and Parenteral Dosage Calculations Lab, Career Development Seminar, and Externship. The College uses technologies and equipment to support the learning process. These include cash register, crash cart, medication cart, med dispenser, compounding supplies, balance/scales, Rx bottles, labels, and pill counting trays. Graduates may apply to take the PTCB exam to become a CPhT. The duration of the program is 36 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must maintain health insurance coverage throughout the program
- Provide proof of immunization – measles – through immunization record, a statement from a licensed physician, or a statement from the individual requesting exemption due to religious beliefs
- Must have a Wonderlic SLE score of 13 or higher
The program cost of $18,966 includes tuition, physical textbooks, and uniforms as required.
- Website: https://carrington.edu/
- Address: 2004 Lloyd Center, 3rd Floor, Portland, OR 97232
- Phone: 503-616-9132
Chemeketa Community College
The hybrid pharmacy technician program at Chemeketa Community College includes online delivery of some of the program content. The college offers a Pharmacy Technician Certificate program and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Pharmacy Management. The programs are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and recognized as a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Recognized Education/Training Program. Students will learn how to organize and maintain patient records and inventory control systems, compound and prepare prescriptions under the direction of a licensed pharmacist, and use aseptic technology to prepare prescriptions in specialized pharmaceutical settings. Course topics include intro to pharmacy technology, pharmacy operations, pharmaceutical drug classifications, pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, over-the-counter products, sterile compounding, multicultural patient healthcare, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmacy practice, pharmacy tech seminar, and workplace psychology. Graduates will be prepared to take the national board exams and work in a variety of areas in healthcare. The duration of the Certificate Pharmacy Technician program is one year. Admission is limited to 20 students with each cycle.
Admission criteria:
- Must be admitted as a student at Chemeketa Community college
- Submit a completed Pharmacy Technician program application
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must complete placement testing and submit scores
- Must submit documentation of any healthcare-related experience
- Attend a program orientation after accepting an offer of admission
- Must complete the required TB screening
- Provide documentation of immunization – MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Tdap, flu vaccine
- Must have current CPR certification
- Complete a criminal background check and drug screen after admission to the program
- Must have access to a computer with high school internet and a printer
Tuition and fees cost $6,703. Additional costs include immunization, TB tests, CPR, immunization tracker, drug screen, equipment kit, Board license fee, fingerprint site processing fee, and passport-sized photo must be covered by the student.
- Website: https://www.chemeketa.edu/
- Address: 4000 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, Oregon 97305
- Phone: 503-399-5000
Oregon Health & Science University
The hybrid pharmacy technician program at Oregon Health & Science University is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacist. The program trains students as pharmacy technicians and prepares them to become certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Students will acquire the skills to better support pharmacists, improve patient safety, reduce medication errors, improve efficiency in the pharmacy, and help pharmacies meet regulatory and training requirements. Course topics include medication error prevention and safety, pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, community pharmacy practice, federal law, institutional pharmacy practice, and state-specific pharmacy law. The curriculum covers 420 hours – 135 hours of theory, 53 hours of simulation activities, and 222 hours experiential. Electives include optional opportunities to explore different pharmacy avenues, expand experiential hours, and gain an understanding of pharmacy technician roles and responsibilities within the different pharmacy departments. The duration of the program is 6 to 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Meet Oregon-specific requirements for employment as a pharmacy technician
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Pass English Comprehension and Math Calculation pre-assessments
- Pass a background check and drug screening
- Must be in compliance with OSHU immunization requirements
- Must have active health insurance
- Submit a completed application for admission
- Submit a current resume and letter of interest
- Provide a letter of recommendation
- Attend a virtual interview with the Selection Committee
The program cost of $3,640 includes books and simulation supplies, OHSU scrub access, PTCB voucher for practice exam and certification exam, student badge, access to elective opportunities, TriMet Hop Fastpass, and OHSU email account. A payment plan is available for all students.
- Website: https://www.ohsu.edu/
- Address: 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239
- Phone: 503 494-8007