The role and responsibility of the pharmacy technician in community and institutional pharmacies have expanded in response to the shortage of pharmacists and advancements in the pharmaceutical sector. Pharmacy technicians are taking a more patient-centered role in practice, and this emphasis on this role is reflected in today’s pharmacy technician training. Whether conducted in-house on through formal programs, the training focuses on customer service, procurement, patient history, and communication with physicians and insurance companies. This shift in practice does not negate the pharmacy technician’s need to be detailed oriented, precise, and proficient with the management of medication and other health care products. Despite the intensity of the training requirements, pharmacy technician programs are one of few healthcare positions that require less than 12 months of preparation for national certification and entry-level employment.
Penta Career Center
The pharmacy technician program at Penta Career Center prepares adult learners for employment as a pharmacy technician in retail and institutional pharmacies. The program is offered through the Adult & Continuing Education Online Division. Students will complete the program’s theoretical requirements online. Hands-on practice will be made available through an externship at a retail pharmacy. Areas of study include pharmacy procedures, medical and pharmaceutical terminology, basic anatomy, pharmacy calculations, processing prescriptions, ethics of pharmacy practice, patient care, charges and reimbursement, and preparation for success on the PTCB exam. The program covers 400-course hours. Students will have access to the program for 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a personal computer and internet access
- Must pass a criminal background check to participate in the pharmacy externship
- Must be able to perform basic math calculations
- Must be proficient in keyboarding (approximately 35 words per minute)
- Must pass a drug test
Tuition costs $2,495. It includes books and materials. A voucher is included for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://www.pentacareercenter.org/Default.aspx
- Address: 9301 Buck Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551
- Phone: 419-661-6555
North Central State College
The pharmacy technician program at North Central State College prepares students for certification by the Ohio Pharmacy Technical Board as a Pharmacy Technician. They will acquire the knowledge and technical skills to assist pharmacists in various healthcare facilities. The program is offered in partnership with the Pioneer Career and Technology Center and the certificate can be applied towards a Health Services Technology Associate Degree. Students will complete the coursework online followed by a 20-hour practical experience to conclude the training. Areas of study include anatomy, medical terminology, medication classifications, regulations governing the pharmacy industry, aseptic technique of medication preparation, methods of drug preparation, sterile compounding, parenteral anti-neoplastic agents, IV flow rates, drug calculations, general prescription duties, medication distribution, inventory control, and third party reimbursement. Graduates will have completed 15 credit hours and receive a Pharmacy Technician Certificate. New cohorts begin twice a year in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Complete a campus tour and admissions interview
- Submit a completed application for admission
- Must have completed high school or a recognized equivalent
- Take and pass the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam with a score of 15
- Complete a satisfactory background check and drug screen
Tuition costs $186.60 per credit hour for resident students.
- Website: https://ncstatecollege.edu/
- Address: 2441 Kenwood Circle, Mansfield, OH 44906
- Phone: 419-755-4800
Ross College
Ross College offers a blended pharmacy technician program to prepare students for employment as a pharmacy technician. Students will complete the program’s theory online and the hands-on requirements will be completed online in the pharmacy tech lab. The curriculum covers six modules including introduction to pharmacy, pharmacy operations, basic principles and concepts of mathematics, measurement systems and dosage calculations, medical terminology for the pharmacy technician, pharmacy law and ethics, general pharmacy, pharmaceutical agents, community/retail pharmacies, non-sterile compounding, hospital and health systems, and sterile compounding. Every module will cover information pertinent to the module as well as hands-on training. The pharmacy technician externship will give students the opportunity to work with local employers to hone their skills and gain valuable experience to add to their resume. The program covers 900 clock hours or 66.5 quarter credits. Graduates are eligible to take the PTCB to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The duration of the program is 36 weeks and includes the 6-week externship.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Complete a campus tour and admissions interview
- Submit a completed application for admission
- Must have completed high school or a recognized equivalent
- Take and pass the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam with a score of 15
- Complete a satisfactory background check and drug screen
Tuition for the program is $15,550. It includes charges for books and fees.
- Website: https://rosseducation.edu/
- Address: 5834 Monroe Street, Suite F-J, Sylvania, Ohio 43560
- Phone: (866) 815-5578
Cleveland Clinic
The School of Pharmacy Technology at Cleveland Clinic prepares students for employment in the Cleveland Clinical Health System. The curriculum includes clinical laboratory experience and education to provide students with hands-on training in various practice settings. The program covers 10 modules of online didactic training (2 weeks for each module) and 100 hours of hands-on simulated rotations at the main campus. Cleveland Clinic pharmacists will guide students through clinical and operational pharmacy practice. At the conclusion of the program, students will complete 200 hours of externship experiences within the Cleveland Clinic System to apply the skills learned.
Admission criteria:
- Complete a program application
- Provide a copy of high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Must be at least 18 years of age upon application
- Complete a phone and on-site interview
- Obtain passing scores in math and reading evaluations via TABE testing
- Must pass a background check and reference check
- Must have completed at least two semesters of college level coursework or have at least five years or professional work experience or submit ACT or SAT scores
Tuition for the program is $2,500. Financial aid is not available. A flexible payment plan is offered to all students.
- Website: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/
- Address: 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
- Phone: 800.223.2273