Pharmacy Technicians work in pharmacies under the direction of a pharmacist to ensure the safe and effective distribution of pharmaceutical drugs. They receive and interpret prescriptions and fill them according to a doctor’s orders, package and label medications, manage stock, update patient profiles, maintain a clean and safe environment, answer patient questions or refer them to the pharmacist for counsel, and receive payments. Technicians manage all aspects of the process for dispensing prescriptions but must have the final order checked by the pharmacist before it can be distributed to customers. They assist the pharmacist with the day-to-day administrative tasks within the pharmacy and minimize occurrences of medication errors by paying attention to details and ensuring accuracy at every step.
Job opportunities for technicians are expected to grow in the next decade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for technicians will be faster than the average for all professions. There will be abundant opportunities for formally trained and certified technicians in hospitals, community pharmacies, and retail chains. Technicians who complete a national certification exam such as a Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board will have better opportunities for higher pay than non-certified technicians.
LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College prepares pharmacy technician students for the PTCB exam. Students will also acquire the skills needed to support pharmacists in retail and community pharmacies. Areas of study include law and ethics, processing prescriptions, defining drugs by generic and brand names, dosage calculations, the history of pharmacy practice, dosage calculations and conversions, reading and interpreting prescriptions, inventory control, IV flow rates, drug compounding, and billing and reimbursement. Graduates will receive a Pharmacy Technician Certificate. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for three months.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalency
- Pass an online screening test
- Have no prior drug convictions
- Be able to work legally in the US
Tuition for the program is $1,195. A payment plan is available.
- Website: https://www.laguardia.edu/ce/pages/career-skills-and-training/pharmacy-technician/
- Address: 31-10 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101 USA
- Phone: 718-482-7244
Ace Institute of Technology
Pharmacy technician students at Ace Institute of Technology acquire knowledge and develop skills critical to the role and function that they would perform as entry-level pharmacy technicians. The comprehensive curriculum will cover human body systems, cell structure and exchange, drug interactions, receiving and interpreting prescriptions, major categories of over-the-counter drugs, insurance, third party billing, the role and function of all pharmacy personnel, drug conversions and calculations, methods of medication storage, asepsis, preparation of parenteral and compound medications, repacking medications. Students will learn how to prepare dispensed records for approval, management of stock, pharmacy operations, therapeutic agents, and dosage forms, administration, and drug information. Ace maintains small class sizes, flexible evening, weekend, and daytime schedules, and job placement assistance.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have a valid photo ID and social security card
Financial aid and flexible payment plans are available.
- Website: https://acecareer.edu/
- Address: 4040 75th Street, Suite 4038, Elmhurst, NY 11373
- Phone: 718575-3223
ABC Training Center
ABC Training Center stands out as one of the best pharmacy technician training centers in New York. The program prepares students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam for national certification. Certified pharmacy technicians typically earn more than non-certified technicians. The curriculum includes modules on pharmacy terminology, drug regulation and control, basic biopharmaceutics, medication calculations, personal standards, and routes and formulations. Areas of study include drug usage and side effects, personal interaction skills and responsibilities, calculations and dosage forms, and verifying prescription and medication orders. Students will receive a Pharmacy Technician Certificate after completing the required 126 hours. They will be eligible for entry-level employment in retail and institutional pharmacies. Classes meet Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm for 4 weeks.
- Fill out and submit the required forms
- Have a valid photo ID
- Have a valid high school diploma or college transcript
Tuition for the program is $900. Applicants must deposit $100 at the time of registration. The balance is payable in four weekly payments.
- Website: https://abctrainingcenter.net/pharmacy-technician/
- Address: 50 East Fordham Road, Bronx NY, 10468
- Phone: 718-618-4958
Lehman College
The comprehensive pharmacy technician program at Lehman College comprises of 50 hours of on-site instruction. It prepares students for employment in a retail or pharmacy setting and to take the NHA exam for CPhT certification. Course topics include pharmacy calculations and measurements, reading and interpreting prescriptions, defining drugs by generic and brand names, the history of pharmacy, pharmacy terminology, pharmacy practice in a retail environment, pharmacy practice in an institutional environment, inventory management, updating patient profiles, and billing and insurance. Classroom lectures and hands-on practice will also cover the handling of sterile products, IV flow rates, drug classification, the top 200 drugs, dose conversions, aseptic techniques, and total parental nutrition (TPN). Students will participate in an 80-hour clinical externship to gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
Tuition for the program is $1,299. It includes textbooks, registration fee, materials, and course certificate.
- Website: https://lehman.edu/
- Address: 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468
- Phone: 718-960-8000
New York Medical Career Training Center (Queens)
The pharmacy technician program at New York Medical Career Training Center includes theory, practical skills, and a 120-hour pharmacy externship at a retail pharmacy. Program graduates will be prepared to sit for the national certification exam. Classroom theory will cover basic anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, drug classification, basic sciences, hospital pharmacy, pharmacy law and ethics, history of medicine, and Complementary Alternative Medicine. Hands-on skills will include dosage forms and routes of administration, pharmacy calculations, OTC medications, repackaging and compounding, pharmacy stock, billing and insurance, and skincare products. The pharmacy externship will afford students the opportunity to ply their skills in a real-world setting. They will learn drug distribution, use of the cash register, compounding and pre-packaging, dispensing refills, updating patient profiles, answering phone calls, medical and pharmaceutical terminology, referring patients to the pharmacist, and the federal and state laws that govern practice. The program requires completion of 250 hours. Morning, evening, and weekend schedules are available. Morning classes meet Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm for 5 weeks. Evening classes meet Monday through Friday from 5:30 pm to 9:40 pm for 6 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or college degree or obtain a passing grade on the ATB exam
- Have a valid photo ID and social security card
The total cost for tuition, registration, and books is $1159.
- Address: 36-09 Main Street 5th Floor Flushing NY 11354
- Phone: (718)-460-1717
- Email: info@nymedtraining.com
New York Institute of Career Development
New York Institute of Career Development offers an online pharmacy technician course that will enable students to perform the duties of a pharmacy technician and define the professional and personal standards that govern practice. They will also learn the role and responsibility of the pharmacy technician and pharmacist, basic pharmacy operations such as aseptic operations, transcribing medication orders, drug dispensation, profiling patients, and apothecary conversions, the classifications of drugs, and the demonstration of professionalism in the workplace. Course modules include Introduction to Pharmacy, Pharmacy Basics, Understanding Pharmacology, Pharmacy Applications and Processes, and Analyzing and Evaluating the Pharmacy Practice. Areas of study include infection control, regulatory law, community pharmacy operations, interpreting and processing prescriptions, merchandise handling, antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals, pharmacy calculations, trade names and generic names, and medical and pharmaceutical terminology. Through partnerships with Walgreens and CVS, the New York Institute of Career Development offers hands-on externships that give students real-life experiences in a pharmacy environment. The program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Tuition costs $934 paid in full. A flexible payment plan is also available.
- Website: https://www.nyicd.edu/career-courses/pharmacy-technician
- Address: 192 Lexington, Suite 701, New York, New York 10016
- Phone: 1-800-239-9275
Molloy College
The Division of Continuing Education and Professional Development at Molloy College offers a pharmacy technician program comprising of 160 hours of professional training. The curriculum will cover 80 hours of theory in the classroom and 80 hours of practice in a retail and institutional pharmacy. The mandatory externship will give students the opportunity to integrate the classroom theory in a real-world setting. Areas of study include Practice Settings and Organizations, Law and Ethics, Basic Safety and Standards, Communication and Customer Service, Introduction to Pharmacology, Classifications of Drugs, Over the Counter Agents, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, Medication Errors, Extemporaneous Compounding and IV Admixtures, Referencing, Dosage Forms, Abbreviations, and Routes of Administration, Retail Setting, Hospital Setting, and Inventory Management. Graduates will be prepared to take the PTCB exam to become certified pharmacy technicians. The Rockville Center program meets one Saturday a week for 12 weeks. New classes begin in the summer semester at Rockville.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Submit a completed application for admission – no application fee is required
- Applications must be completed two weeks prior to the start of classes
- Eligibility to take the PTCB exam depends on full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or license actions
Tuition for the program is $1,800. Accepted persons must deposit $900 at the time of registration. The cost of tuition does not include textbook, lab coat, or practice exam. A payment plan is available for students who are unable to pay the balance before the start of class. This program is approved for Veterans Benefits, as well as for Displaced Homemakers and/or Dislocated Workers.
- Website: https://www.molloy.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/continuing-education-and-professional-studies/careers-and-professional-studies/pharmacy-technician
- Address: 1000 Hempstead Avenue, P.O. Box 5002, Rockville Centre, New York 11571-5002
- Phone: 1-888-4-MOLLOY
- Email: info@molloy.edu
Royal Learning Institute
Royal Learning Institute prepares adults to assume an important role in a retail or institutional pharmacy. The pharmacy assistant course equips them with skills that will translate directly into a rewarding career. In addition to theory, the program will incorporate hands-on training taught by leading educators in the industry. Course topics include infection control, drug types, distribution and routes of administration, dosages, introduction to the pharmacy technician role, fundamentals of interpretation, dispensing of prescriptions, packaging and labeling of medications, and career development. The duration of the program is 10 weeks and covers 150 contact hours of theory and practical instruction. Graduates will be prepared to take a national certification exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Job placement assistance is available for successful students.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
The cost of attendance is $1,500 and includes tuition, books, and one uniform.
- Website: https://www.rli.edu/pharmacy-assistant/
- Address: 37-17 76th Street, 2nd Floor Jackson Heights, NY 11372
- Phone: 718-478-0500
- Email: info@rli.edu
ASA College
The ASA College Pharmacy Technology (A.O.S) Degree Program prepares students for a role where they will work alongside pharmacists and perform various pharmacy-related duties. The curriculum integrates theory with hands-on training in dedicated pharmacy laboratories and field experiences in various pharmacy settings. Students must complete 90 hours of externship in a retail setting, and 90 hours in a hospital setting for a total of 180 hours. They must complete the required arts and sciences, electives, and professional courses to obtain the Associate in Occupational Studies Degree. Professional courses include Anatomy and Physiology, Computer Concepts and Applications, Legal and Ethical Issues for Pharmacy Technicians, Medical Terminology, Fundamentals of Pharmacy Practices, Pharmacy Environments, Administrative Aspects of Pharmacy Technology, Professional Aspects of Pharmacy Technology, Drug Classifications, Fundamentals of Therapeutic Agents, Pharmacy Lab Experience, Pharmaceutical Dosage Calculations, Pharmacy Technology Externship, and Psychosocial Aspects of Healthcare. The degree requires 60 credits. Graduates should be able to communicate effectively with patients, medical professionals and the pharmacy team, adhere to legal and ethical principles in practice, identify the symptoms and implications of substance abuse, and identify the names and uses of various prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Admission criteria:
- Attend an interview with an Admissions Advisor
- Submit a completed application
- Submit a high school transcript request form
- Pay the non-refundable application fee
- Take and pass the Accuplacer placement tests administered by ASA
Tuition costs $495 per credit. Financial aid is available for eligible persons.
- Website: https://www.asa.edu/pharmacy-technology/
- Address: 1293 Broadway, (One Herald Sq), New York, NY 10001
- Phone: (332) 255-8626