According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in New York earn a median salary of $40,860 annually. Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist to dispense prescription medications. If you’re passionate about healthcare and seeking fast entry into the sector, pharmacy training may be right for you. You should have basic math skills, be attentive to detail and customer service oriented, and a good communicator. A pharmacy technician program in New York will supply the technical skills, knowledge and medications, and ethical guidelines for successful practice. You can complete a pharmacy technician certificate program in just 4 months and be prepared for national certification from a certifying organization such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Below is a list of accredited pharmacy technician programs in New York City.
ACE Institute of Technology
The pharmacy technician program at ACE Institute of Technology is designed for adult students who want to prepare for a career as a pharmacy technician. The program includes theory and practical instruction o teach students how to prepare prescription labels, count and label appropriate containers, prepare dispensed records for signature of the pharmacist, and provide the filled prescription to the patient. Topics covered include fundamentals of anatomy and physiology, pharmacy operations, prescription processing, pharmacy billing and stocking, therapeutic agents, introduction to body systems, OTC medications and herbal medicines, asepsis and repackaging, conversions/calculations for pharmacy technicians, dosage forms, administration and drug information, and parenteral and compound medications. Graduates are eligible to apply to take a national certification exam. ACE is a NHA approved testing site. Day and evening schedules are available. Job placement assistance is available for program graduates.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be proficient in maths and English
- Must submit a completed application to ACE
- Must sign the enrolment documents
A flexible payment plan is available for all students.
- Website: https://acecareer.edu/
- Address: 312 W 36th St. 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10018
- Phone: 212695-9700
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
The NYU Langone Health Pharmacy Technician Training Program prepares adults to become a pharmacy technician in hospital and health system settings. Students will learn in the classroom, simulation lab and through experiential training in a clinical environment. The curriculum requires completion of 400 clock hours of instruction. It is based on the ASHP Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Training Programs. Students will learn cart fill dispensing, emergency medication tray preparation, sterile and extemporaneous compounding, pharmaceutical packaging, information technology, purchasing, and inventory management. Students will train at clinical practice sites such as Tisch Hospital, NYU Langone Hospital, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, and others. Hands-on practice will be conducted in a simulation lab for mock patient-specific medication preparation and processing. Students must obtain a passing grade of 70 percent in each category to graduate from the program. Classes meet 35 hours weekly for 11.5 weeks. Day, evening, and overnight shifts are scheduled for the clinical practicum. Graduates are eligible for employment at NYU Langone Health.
Admission criteria:
- Must submit a completed application with a personal essay
- Must submit high school transcript or GED with scores
- Provide two references from employers or teachers, past or current
- Must meet with members of the admission committee – invitation only
- Take and pass a basic mathematics and grammar/vocabulary exam
- Must obtain medical clearance and undergo a background check
Training is free but students must purchase the required textbook and pay the registration fee to take the PTCE exam.
- Website: https://med.nyu.edu/
- Address: 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
- Phone: 212-263-5290
Medical Training Institute
The pharmacy technician program at Medical Training Institute provides students with the training needed for entry-level employment as a pharmacy technician. The program comprises of 400 clock hours of didactic, hands-on skills practice, and pharmacy externship. The pharmacy externship accounts for 130 of the total program hours. Course topics are geared toward community pharmacy practice and includes over-the-counter drugs, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, pharmacy technology, IV admixture and aseptic technique, advanced insurance billing, pharmacy technician role in drug utilization, and communication skills. The program will also include preparation for the PTCB exam and NYS pharmacy technician license. Day, evening and weekend schedules are available. The duration of the program is 16 to 25 weeks based on the schedule.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must apply for admission to the program
Tuition for the program is $2,950 and includes registration fee, books and technology fees, clinical and lab fee, and lab coat and scrubs.
- Website: http://www.mtiofnewyork.com/
- Address: 211 East 43rd Street, 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10017
- Toll Free: 800-559-5935
The City College of New York
The Continuing and Professional Studies Department at The City College of New York prepares adults for a career as a pharmacy through the online 75-hour pharmacy technician program. The program will cover applied and practical concepts needed for candidates to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Areas of study include pharmacy law, human anatomy and physiology, managing a pharmacy, arithmetic and algebra review, medical dosages for oral medications and IV infusions, pharmacology, maintain inventory, medical terminology, drugs and their side effects, billing and insurance, and updating pharmacy database. The duration of the program is 4 months (25 sessions). Saturday sessions are available and can be completed in just 15 sessions. Evening classes meet from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma, TASC or HSE
- Provide a valid picture ID
- Have a social security card
The program fee is $775. The non-refundable registration fee of $25 is not included in the cost.
- Website: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/
- Address: 160 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10031
- Phone: 212-650-7000
Lehman College
The comprehensive 50-hour program at Lehman College prepares students for employment in a retail or other pharmacy settings. Students will also be prepared to pursue CPhT certification through the PTCB or NHA. Courses include the history of pharmacy, pharmacy medical terminology, pharmacy calculations and measurements, pharmacy practice in multiple environments, defining drugs by generic and brand names, reading and interpreting prescriptions, packaging and labeling, sterile compounding, handling of sterile products, dosage calculations, IV flow rates, total parental nutrition, and updating patient profiles. Upon completion of theoretical requirements, students will participate in an optional 80-hour clinical externship. Coursework will be delivered online. Lehman’s Pharmacy Technician program is recognized by PTCB for CPhT exam. Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm for 17 sessions.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
Tuition for the program is $1,299 and includes textbooks and materials, registration fee, certificate, and 24/7 learner support.
- Website: http://lehman.edu/
- Address: 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468
- Phone: 718-960-8000
ABC Training Center
ABC Training Center prepares pharmacy technician students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board national certification exam. The training will cover calculations and dosage forms, screening of prescription and medication orders, distribution of medications, the role and responsibility of the pharmacy technician, drug usage indications and side effects, billing and insurance, pharmacy terminology, routes and formulations, and personal standards. Graduates will be eligible to take the PTCB for certification as a pharmacy technician. The program is offered on a weekday (full-time) only. Classes meet Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm for 4 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Submit the completed admission forms
- Provide a valid photo ID (passport, driver’s license or state ID, or military ID)
- High school diploma or GED or college transcript
Tuition for the program is $995 and includes the registration fee and books.
- Website: https://abctrainingcenter.net/
- Address: 50 East Fordham Road, (Entrance on Walton Avenue), Bronx NY, 10468
- Phone: (718) 618 5589
New York Medical Career Training Center
The pharmacy technician program at New York Medical Career Training Center includes instruction in the classroom as well as a pharmacy internship on site. The training will cover the pharmacy law and ethics, drug classifications, basic sciences for pharmacy, anatomy and physiology, history of medicine and pharmacy, pharmacology, hospital pharmacy operation, complementary alternative medicine, and psychopharmacology. Skills lab will cover dosage forms and routes of administration, pharmacy calculations, processing of prescriptions, repackaging and compounding, aseptic techniques, and pharmacy stock. Students are required to complete a 120-hour externship to develop experience in billing cash register, drug distribution, data entry, compounding and pre-packaging, and dispensing refills. Instructors will cover material that will enable students to pass the National Certification Exam. The total program is 250 hours. Mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekend schedules are available. The duration of the program varies from 5 weeks to 8 weeks depending on the chosen schedule.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED – applicants without the high school diploma will be required to take the Ability to Benefit exam and obtain a passing grade
- Provide a valid picture ID
- Have a social security card
The program cost of $1,219 includes tuition, books, and registration fee.
- Website: https://www.nymedtraining.com/
- Address: 500 8th Avenue Suite 5N New York, NY 10018
- Phone: (212)-947-4444
- Email: info@nymedtraining.com
How Do I Get Free Pharmacy Technician Training New York City?
NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Health provides free pharmacy technician training to prepare adults for employment as a pharmacy technician at NYU Langone or another institution. Many of the program’s graduates work at NYU Langone. To qualify, you must graduate from the program and be in good standing, pass the PTCE, and obtain Registered Pharmacy Technician licensure from the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
How Long Does It Take to Become A Pharmacy Technician in NY?
Pharmacy technician programs typically run for 4 to 6 months.
How Do I Become A Pharmacy Technician in New York?
Pharmacy technicians in New York must register with the New York State Education Department – Office of Professions.
You do not have a obtain formal training, but it is recommended, especially when applying for national certification.
Submit the following to the NYS Education Department when applying for registration:
- Your PTCB/NHA Certification
- A copy of your high school diploma/transcript or college transcript reflecting an associate’s degree or higher or at least 30 semester credit
- A completed application and application fee of $175
Full details on the NYS Pharmacy Technician Requirements available here.
What are the Requirements to Work as a Pharmacy Technician in New York?
Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals/health systems in New York must be nationally certified through the PTCB or NHA exam and registered through the NYS Department of Education.
Pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacies may still practice as unlicensed but cannot compound.
How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make in NYC?
Pharmacy technicians in NYC earn an annual mean wage of $40,860.