The current demand for pharmacy technicians is a direct response to the increasing need for prescription medications. If you enjoy working with others and pay attention to detail, a career as a pharmacy technician may be rewarding. Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacists in retail pharmacies, hospitals, in-patient and out-patient pharmacies, home infusion pharmacies, and long-term care facilities. Like other health care workers, they may work round the clock, depending on the facility.
Pharmacy technician programs deliver the preparation needed to work safely and competently to promote health and wellness and reduce medication errors. Certification is not mandatory in Minnesota. However, many employers expect their employees to be Certified Pharmacy Technicians. The certification exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is one way to achieve this status. Pharmacy technician programs will cover the topics, including a PTCB exam review, to prepare students for success. Once certified, the credential will be valid for two years and requires completion of 20 CEUs for renewal.
The Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy requires registration from all pharmacy technicians. New technicians must complete military or public health training, a program accredited by the ASHP, a program approved by the Board, or an employer developed program comprising of at least 240 hours. Employment opportunities for pharmacy technicians are expected to grow 12 percent in the next decade.
Minnesota Training Connection
The Pharmacy Technician at the Minnesota Training Connection is offered in collaboration with the Dakota County Technical College and includes theory and practical instruction to prepare students for employment in a pharmacy setting. They will have the competencies to assist the pharmacist with the receipt of prescription and distribution of medications to patients. The classroom component delivers 60 hours of personalized instruction in medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, drug compounding, inventory control, dispensing of prescriptions, dosage calculations and conversions, and billing and reimbursement. Following the classroom sessions, students will complete a pharmacy externship comprising of 120 hours of supervised practice in a retail pharmacy. Students who successfully complete the program’s requirements will receive a Pharmacy Technician Certificate and will be prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED
Tuition for the program is $1,299.
- Website: https://minnesotatraining.com/programs/healthcare/certified-pharmacy-technician-cpht/
- Address: 1300 E 145th Street, Rosemount, MN 55068
- Phone: 651-423-8269
Normandale Community College
Normandale Community College teaches pharmacy technician students the knowledge and competencies to qualify for registration in Minnesota. The program includes 285 hours of theory that is delivered online and a 180-hour externship at a CVS or Walgreens pharmacy. Online delivery of the coursework gives students the flexibility to complete the courses at their own pace but with the same quality of support offered by traditional programs. Course topics include pharmacology, pharmacy law, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy regulations and standards, pharmacy terminology, inventory management, the top 200 drugs, dose conversions, billing and insurance, and customer care. Students will also learn how to read and interpret prescriptions, package and label programs, select products, and dispense medication to the customer in preparation for the pharmacy externship.
Admission criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED
Tuition for the program is $1,999. The cost includes one-on-one instructor support and the six textbooks and drug reference book.
- Website: http://www.normandale.edu/continuing-education/health-care-and-medical/medical-careers/pharmacy-technician
- Address: 9700 France Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431
- Phone: (952) 358-8200
- Toll-Free: 1 (800) 481-5412
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Students enrolled in the pharmacy technician program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College will complete the requirements for a certificate in one semester. The requirements include lectures in the classroom as well as hands-on experiences in a partner retail pharmacy. Students will learn how to work in a retail pharmacy, the importance of ethics and patient confidentiality, common diseases and pharmaceutical treatments, social influences on diseases and treatments, and the use of syringes and other compounding devices. Course topics include human diseases and drugs, health care ethics, introduction to pharmacy practice, chemistry, communications in health care, health care safety and standard precautions, dosage calculations, medical terminology, and retail pharmacy internship. The internship will cover 80 hours of pharmacy practice at a local retail pharmacy such as Walgreens or Target. Students who complete the entire 16 credits will receive a pharmacy technician certificate and will be prepared to sit for the PTCB exam. The training will also provide a solid pathway to future career goals in healthcare.
Tuition for the program costs $2,484. Books and supplies cost an additional $747.
- Website: https://www.minneapolis.edu/pharmacy-technician
- Address: 1501 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
- Phone: 612-659-6000
Saint Paul College
Saint Paul College offers a Pharmacy Technician Diploma program and a Pharmacy Technician Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program. The Both programs prepare students for employment and meet the requirements for registration by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. However, the AAS degree includes additional preparation for those who plan to transfer to a college or university to complete a bachelor’s program. The programs are available in online, traditional, and hybrid formats. Students will learn medication safety, pharmacy calculations, prescription dispensing, interpretation of prescription orders, pharmacy laws and ethics, healthcare communication and customer service skills, sterile and non-sterile compounding, and pharmacotherapy and disease processes. The diploma program requires completion of 35 credits in 16 months. The AAS degree requires completion of 60 credits in four semesters. The program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
Admission criteria:
- Submit an application to the Pharmacy Technician Program after completing the admissions process to Saint Paul College
- Complete Human Body Systems and Medical Terminology with a grade C or higher
- Attend a mandatory information session
- Have a reading, math, and writing score of 78+
Tuition for the 35-credit diploma program is $5,659. Books and supplies cost an additional $1,400.
- Website: https://www.saintpaul.edu/programs/pharmacy-technician
- Address: 235 Marshall Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
- Phone: 651-846-1600
Rasmussen College
The pharmacy technician program at Rasmussen College is designed to prepare students for employment in the field of pharmacy. The program leads to a Pharmacy Technician Certificate. Graduates are prepared for success on a national certification exam. The curriculum is geared to develop students’ competencies to provide expert care to patients and support to pharmacists. In the classroom and clinical settings, students will learn the use of pharmacy software, customer service in healthcare, sterile and non-sterile compounding, pharmacy law and ethics, career development, medical law and ethics, pharmacology, foundations of practice. The program also requires completion of a pharmacy retail internship and a pharmacy technician capstone. Students must complete 38 credits to graduate from the program in a nine-month period. Tuition for the program is $11,980.
- Website: https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/pharmacy-technician/
- Address: 4400 West 78th Street, 6th Floor, Bloomington, MN 55435
- Phone: 952-545-2000
- Fax: 952-545-7038
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
The Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Pharmacy Technician Program trains students to work side-by-side with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. The program’s curriculum follows the guidelines of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The program’s content is delivered online but students will also complete the simulations and internship in person. Graduates will receive a Pharmacy Technician Certificate and have the confidence to pass the PTCB national exam. They will have the option to work at Mayo Clinic or Mayo Clinic Health System. The duration of the program is 20 weeks. Admission is limited to 10 students per class.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Be 18 years or older
- US citizenship or permanent residency
- A background check
The estimated flat-rate tuition for the program is $3,000. Other expenses include a background check, registration with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, national certification exam, books, supplies, and uniforms.
- Website: https://www.mayo.edu/mayo-clinic-school-of-health-sciences/careers/pharmacy/pharmacy-technician-program-minnesota
- Address: 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905
- Phone: 507-293-2272
- Email: rewald.matthew@mayo.edu
Hennepin Tech
The Pharmacy Technician Diploma program at Hennepin Tech prepares students for an entry-level role in a retail pharmacy, clinic, hospital, or inpatient setting. The school offers a Pharmacy Technician Diploma or Pharmacy Technician AAS degree.
The Diploma requires completion of 37 credits and the AAS requires completion of 59 credits. Course topics include medical and pharmacy terminology, pharmacy law and ethics, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology and epidemiology diseases processes, principles of pharmacy practice, pharmacy technician externship, and chemistry for pharmacy technicians.
Admission criteria:
- A completed application to the pharmacy technician program
- Obtain a qualifying score on the reading, writing, math and computer literacy assessment tests
- A high school diploma or GED
- Be 18 years or older
- A background check
Tuition at Hennepin College costs $5,147 per year.
- Website: https://www.hennepintech.edu/academic-programs/health-services/pharmacy-technology/index.html
- Address: 9000 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
- Phone: 952-995-1300