Pharmacy technicians have a vital role and function in pharmacy practice. They assist the pharmacist with the receipt and distribution of prescription medication and health care products. They also manage the administrative activities in the pharmacy giving pharmacists the freedom to focus on patient counseling and in-pharmacy services. The pharmacy technician program includes theoretical and hands-on activities that will enable students to function in the role from day one. Training also includes preparation for the national certification exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Certification is not mandatory for registration in New Jersey but more and more employers prefer certification from their pharmacy technician employees.
Hudson County Community College
The pharmacy technician program at Hudson County Community College will acquaint students with the role and function of the pharmacy technician in community and institutional pharmacies. Students will learn how to fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, obtain correct patient information, perform compounding tasks, and perform calculations to fill prescriptions. Other areas of study include basic anatomy and physiology, terminology, fraud/abuse, and drug classifications. The program will also include preparation for the NHA exam.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Must be a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident, or work authorization visa with valid social security number
- Must have 9th-grade proficiency on the TABE test – students who are currently enrolled in HCCC are exempt (GPA 2.0)
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Submit a criminal background check and fingerprinting prior to certification
- Must be available to start working after program completion
Tuition costs $149 per credit from resident (in-county) residents.
- Website: https://www.hccc.edu/
- Address: 161 Newkirk Street, Suite E504, Jersey City, NJ 07306
- Phone: (201) 360-5327
Ocean County College
The pharmacy technician program at Ocean County College is nationally recognized as an approved training program by the PTCB. Students can complete the requirements on campus or online. Course content includes defining drugs by brand and generic names, drug interactions, medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, medication route of administration and side effects, dose conversion, drug compounding, IV flow rates, inventory control in the pharmacy, and preparation for the PTCB exam. Students who complete the requirements will be prepared to sit for the PTCB exam.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or HSED
- Must have a basic knowledge of math
- Purchase the required textbook
The tuition for the program is $2499. A flexible payment plan is available for all students.
- Website: https://www.ocean.edu/
- Address: College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
- Phone: 732-255-0400
County College of Morris
County College of Morris offers a pharmacy technician apprenticeship to provide students with a quality education even as they come into direct contact with a healthcare employer. Students will earn industry-valued credentials, hands-on experience, direct employment, and competitive wages. Benefits to students include wages while learning, fast-track career development, industry recognized credentials, classroom, virtual and on-the-job training, and training for retail and hospital pharmacy settings. Course topics include pharmacy law, pharmacology, dosage calculations, pharmacy operations, customer service, pharmacy software and billing, and dispensing prescriptions. Students must complete 139 hours of technical training and then complete 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. Graduates will be eligible to apply to sit for the PTCB. The apprenticeship may be completed in 5 to 7 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Must demonstrate proficiency in math and English
- Pass a criminal history check and urine drug screening
The program cost is $599 for screening and the Introduction to Pharmacy module.
- Website: https://www.ccm.edu/
- Address: 214 Center Grove Rd., Randolph, NJ 07869
- Phone: 973-328-5000
Brookdale Community College
The pharmacy technician program at Brookdale Community College provides students with the knowledge and skills to pass the national PTCB exam and dispense medications under the direction of a licensed pharmacist. The curriculum covers a comprehensive study of the role and function of a pharmacy technician in a retail or institution pharmacy setting. Course modules include pharmacy law, receiving and preparing prescriptions, pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, compounding medications, drug and their effects, inventory management, the top 200 drugs, and pharmacy operations. The training will also include hands-on exercises that simulate real-life scenarios. The program is 144 classroom hours and 20 clinical externship hours. Students will participate in a resume-writing workshop at the conclusion of the program. The duration of the program is 4 months. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must attend an information session to learn the program details, requirements for admission and course expectation
- Provide a copy of high school diploma or GED
- Obtain a clear criminal background check and drug screening (additional fee)
The program fee of $2,599 includes tuition, PTCB exam fee, and textbooks.
- Website: https://www.brookdalecc.edu/
- Address: 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738-1543
- Phone: 732-224-2345
William Paterson University
The Pharmacy Technician program at William Paterson University is a PTCB approved program that prepares students for national certification. The training includes lectures and interactions in the classroom and hands-on activities in the school’s simulated lab and pharmacy externship at a local pharmacy. Areas of study include pharmacy calculations, dosage calculations, reading and interpreting prescriptions, medical terminology, identifying drugs by generic and brand names, IV flow rates, inventory control, billing and reimbursement, and drug compounding. Students will also learn the history of pharmacy, handling of sterile products, prescriptions and labeling, aseptic techniques, pharmacy measures and abbreviations, routes and formulations, and calculating a 24-hour supply of IV solutions. Students will receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to take the PTCB exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm for two months.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be 18 years or older
Tuition for the program is $1,699.
- Website: https://www.wpunj.edu/
- Address: 300 Pompton Rd, Wayne, New Jersey 07470
- Phone: 973-720-2000
Bradford Institute
The pharmacy technician program at Bradford Institute prepares students for the prestigious Board Certified Pharmacy Technician status after passing the PTCB licensing exam. Students will also be eligible to become NJ Registered Pharmacy Technicians and assume entry-level employment in top hospitals, pharmacy stores, billing, and insurance offices. The program is recognized by the PTCB. It will cover marketable skills in the role and function of the pharmacy technician, front desk activities, reading physicians prescriptipns, and assisting the pharmacist with filling prescriptions. The program’s six independent modules consists of medical terminology, pharmacology, pharmaceutical calculations, and pharmacy operations. Upon completion of the classroom requirements, students will participate in a 50-hour (non-mandatory) externship experience as they utilize theory and practices covered in the classroom. Graduates will be prepared for success on the PTCB exam. Classes meet Monday through Friday. Both day and evening schedules are available.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must pass a criminal background check and drug screen for participation in the externship
- Must register for the program
Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.branfordinstitute.org/
- Address: 333 North Broad Street, Elizabeth NJ 07208.
- Phone: 908-352-1004
- Fax: 908-352-6919
Pennco Tech
Pennco Tech provides pharmacy technician students with a well-rounded education that includes hands-on learning and classroom and lab instruction. Students will also gain valuable experience as they utilize pharmacy practice software in the simulation lab. This simulation software gives students the opportunity to step into a virtual pharmacy and connect with customers, work on precriptions, interact with insurance representatives, prepare labels, and handle inventory and other store management tasks. Course topics include drug/general brand recognition, drug classifications, sterile compounding, compounding, basic knowledge of body systems, prescription entry process, pharmacy law, retail and hospital pharmacy simulations, medical/pharmacy insurance, and pharmacy calculations. The externship part of the program will give students a chance to gain experience in a real work environment with a local employer. Graduates will be eligible to apply to sit for the PTCB. The duration of the program is 6 months. Day and evening schedules are available.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Attend a personal onsite interview with a representative from the Admissions Committee
- Complete an Entrance Questionnaire
- Submit a completed enrollment form and registration fee of $100
- Provide proof of completing high school or GED or submit ATB scores Verbal – 2000 and Quantitative – 210
- Pass a criminal background check and drug screen
The program will cost $11,700 including the $100 enrollment fee, books, and tools.
- Website: https://www.brookdalecc.edu/
- Address: 99 Erial Rd., Blackwood, NJ 08012
- Phone: 856-245-5320
Rutgers University – Division of Continuing Studies
Rutgers University Division of Continuing Studies provides students with the option to complete a pharmacy technician program online. The theoretical coursework is delivered fully online with full support from an instructor who will provide one-on-one instruction for each student. Course topics include pharmacology of medications, pharmaceutical calculations, processing prescriptions, ethics of practice, patient care and interaction, billing and reimbursement, pharmaceutical terms and abbreviations, packaging and labeling, and inventory management.
The program will also include an optional 40 to 100-hour internship at a local pharmacy. Students will have up to 12 months to complete the self-paced program.
Admission criteria:
- Be proficient in keyboarding
- Have a command of English grammar and punctuation
- Have a basic understanding of high school math
- Must be at least 18 years old – to take the PTCB exam
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Complete a background check to participate in the externship at Walgreens or CVS
The program fee of $3,300 includes all course materials.
- Website: https://lifelonglearning.rutgers.edu/
- Address: 303 George Street, Ste. 610, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Phone: 732-628-6052