Pharmacy Technician (Voucher Included)

Online Pharmacy Technician Course

Become a Pharmacy Technician

There’s no shortage of pharmacies in need of skilled pharmacy technicians! Prepare for a career as a pharmacy technician. This immersive program will train you to work as a pharmacy technician and prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE®) to obtain the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB®).

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Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), on average, pharmacy technicians earn an annual salary of $32,700. Top earners can make up to $47,000 per year. 

The BLS estimates demand for pharmacy technicians will grow 12% through 2028 creating over 30,000 new jobs.

Pharmacy Technician FAQs
 

pharmacy tech cert

Pharmacy technicians order and stock medications, prepare medications for distribution and provide information to patients. Pharmacy technicians may perform many of the same duties as a pharmacist; however, their work must be approved by a pharmacist before medication can be dispensed.  

Requirements for pharmacy technicians vary by state, but most require certification, registration or licensure. Earning your certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) provides a valuable, industry-recognized credential that meets most states’ requirements.

This pharmacy technician course can be completed in one year or less. This does not include the time you spend in an externship program or preparing and sitting for state licensure.

As the population ages and the prevalence of chronic diseases rises, more pharmacy technicians will be needed in pharmacies and may even see themselves taking on greater responsibilities in their role. 

What you will learn

  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacy technician role, including essential professional skills and communication expectations necessary for success in a pharmacy setting
  • Understand pharmacy regulations and standards from regulatory agencies and professional associations to ensure patient safety, high-quality care, and proper medication handling
  • Gain practical knowledge of medication processing and handling procedures, including the ability to identify medication orders and read prescription forms accurately
  • Learn about medication storage guidelines and quality assurance procedures in the pharmacy department
  • Develop essential skills for success as a pharmacy technician, including accuracy, attention to detail, and effective communication

How you will benefit

  • Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as a pharmacy technician and perform all related tasks and responsibilities with confidence
  • Gain hands-on learning through an online lab module that provides practical experience in processing orders and identifying correct medication dosing and sourcing
  • Access a comprehensive work experience guide and receive personalized support from our clinical experience team to prepare for your future as a certified pharmacy technician
  • Prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)'s Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and earn the highly respected Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential upon successful completion
  • Take advantage of a voucher for the certification exam and apply for a 100+ hour work Clinical Experience to gain valuable practical experience and further enhance your professional skills

Prerequisites

To register for this course, you must be 18 years of age or older. You should be proficient in keyboarding (approximately 35 words per minute), have a basic understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word is recommended), have a command of English grammar and punctuation, and have a basic understanding of high school math.

To participate in the competency activities and receive feedback from your instructor, you will need to have access to a video camera (on the phone or other device of familiarity) and be able to upload the video as an .mp4 file to the assignment pages for review. These activities are required in order to pass the course successfully.

Certification Requirements

  • Reside in the United States of America or its territories (US)
  • Completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program or equivalent Practicum Experience
  • Full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions
  • Compliance with all applicable PTCB Certification policies
  • Passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam® (PTCE®)

Clinical Experience Requirements

As a participant in our Pharmacy Technician program, you'll have the opportunity to participate in the exclusive Clinical Experience, which provides a valuable advantage in today's competitive job market. Through our nationwide agreement with several pharmacies, you can gain hands-on experience and assist pharmacists with prescriptions, patient inquiries, and administrative tasks.

To qualify for the Clinical Experience, you will need to meet certain requirements, including passing a drug screening test, obtaining professional liability insurance, completing a background check and employment verification, meeting current immunization standards, and conforming with state mandates such as registration, fingerprinting, licensing, etc. Additional forms may be necessary for participation in the Clinical Experience with certain pharmacies. Please note that while we strive to find available openings, a Clinical Experience placement is not guaranteed for the Pharmacy Technician program and may take up to 12 weeks to secure. As a candidate, you should start applying for the PTBC Trainee License 2 weeks before you take the final exam in the course.

Registration and Enrollment
This program is 100% online. Start anytime.

Ready to Become a Pharmacy Technician?

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Curriculum

  1. Getting Started
  2. How to Take This Course
  3. Test-Out Exam 1: Lessons 1–Midterm Exam
  4. Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body in Health and Disease
  5. The Musculoskeletal System
  6. The Cardiovascular System
  7. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
  8. The Respiratory System
  9. The Digestive System
  10. The Urinary System
  11. Midterm
  12. Test-Out Exam 2: Lessons 8–Final Exam
  13. The Nervous System
  14. Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
  15. The Integumentary System
  16. The Endocrine System
  17. Mental Health
  18. Male and Female Reproductive Systems
  19. Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine
  20. Final Exam
  1. Pharmacy Practice Then and Now
  2. The Pharmacy Technician
  3. Pharmacy Laws and Regulations
  4. Pharmacy Ethics
  5. Controlled Substances
  6. Workplace Safety
  7. Prescription and Medication Order Requirements
  8. Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
  9. Pharmaceutical Calculations, Part 1 and Part 2
  10. Pharmacology
  11. Considerations in Special Populations
  12. Pharmacology and the Nervous System
  13. Pharmacology and the Cardiovascular System
  14. Pharmacology and the Genitourinary System
  15. Pharmacology and the Musculoskeletal System
  16. Pharmacology and the Respiratory System
  17. Pharmacology and the Gastrointestinal System
  18. Pharmacology and the Endocrine System
  19. Oncology
  20. Infectious Disease
  21. Wellness, Health Promotion, and Disease Prevention
  22. Career Development

Instructors

Pharmacy Technician Instructors

Melissa Dunworth has been a pharmacy technician for over 13 years and has worked in retail, closed pharmacy, and training/education areas during her career. Melissa holds a bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences and works as a Developmental Specialist in Early Intervention for children ages 0 to 3 years. She has been a certified pharmacy technician since 1997. Melissa is also registered with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy.

Betty Stahl holds a doctorate in pharmacy from Shenandoah University. Over the past several years, she has taught pharmacy technician programs at ASA College in New York City and ACT in Arlington, Virginia. Stahl has also worked as a pharmacist in independent and hospital settings.

Lorraine Zentz holds a bachelor's degree in science, with a focus on Biology and Chemistry, and a master's degree in education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a licensed educator in Colorado for middle and high school science and math. Lorraine is the original author of the Cengage Pharmacy Technician Program and has facilitated students since 2003. With over 30 years of experience working in hospital pharmacies and a passion for teaching, she remains deeply committed to both fields.

Medical Terminology Instructors

Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See here for a full list of these instructors.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation in its services, program activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodations, contact Professional and Continuing Education at least eight weeks in advance at: 262-595-3340 (V), 262-595-2513 (FAX), or email continuing.ed@uwp.edu.
 

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