Online Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program
IN-DEMAND
5 DAY MONEY-BACK COMMITMENT
SELF-PACED
U.S. Career Institute’s Online Pharmacy Technician School offers a 100% online program that allows you to study any time, any place, even on your phone.
Estimated Length of program:
4-9 months, self-paced. Start learning today - no waiting period.
Certification:
Pharmacy Technician Certification (PTCE) or Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT)
Median Earnings:
$40,300* based on statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Tuition:
Payment Plan: $69/month
($1,279 total)
Pay-in-Full: $979 Tuition
See full tuition details.
Program Goal:
To prepare students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) or NHA ExCPT exam and gain entry-level employment as a pharmacy technician.
Class Format:
Online – Computer or Phone
Overview
Our Pharmacy Tech classes are designed to prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Your PTCE or ExCPT exam fee is included in your tuition- up to a $218 value†.
DEAC Accredited
Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency
Proven Reputation
A+ BBB Rating, 40 Years in Business, 4.8 out of 5 TrustScore, DEAC Accredited, 97% of students would recommend us to a friend.
Career Coach Program
Your tuition includes access to instructors, learning materials, student services, and one-on-one career coaching with a career advisor. $400 Value**
Median Salary $40,300*
Pharmacy Technician professionals are paid a competitive salary.
7% Job Growth by 2033*
Pharmacy Technician jobs are projected to increase 7% by 2033* according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Real-world Skills
Focus on real-world skills that will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need for employment and to prepare for industry certifications.
Walgreens® Pharmacy Technician Externship
Graduates are eligible to take advantage of an 80-hour Walgreens externship. The externship does not have an additional tuition cost**, and is available to all graduates who meet the Walgreens Externship standard requirements. Even though the externship is optional, we encourage our graduates to take advantage of this great resource to get valuable hands-on experience. If you meet the requirements our graduate support team will help you set up the externship in your area!
Course Outline
Graduates of the Pharmacy Technician course will be trained in written and oral medical and pharmaceutical terminology, as well as basic human anatomy and physiology. They will be able to perform basic mathematical functions and dosage calculations utilizing metric, apothecary, and household systems. These skills will prepare them for an entry-level position in a hospital or retail setting.
- Apply the skills needed to obtain entry-level pharmacy technician positions.
- Assist licensed pharmacists in providing medication and other healthcare products to patients.
- Effectively receive prescriptions from doctors and hospitals, prepare prescriptions for patients and verify insurance and prescription information.
What You'll Learn
- Roles of a Pharmacy Technician
- Terminology and Body Systems
- Pharmacy Operations and Drug Resources
- Dosage Forms, Prescriptions, Medication Orders
- Drug Actions and Interactions
- Managing Inventory and Financial Management
- Vaccines, Analgesics, Vitamins, Respiratory Agents
- Pharmacy Calculations and Compounding
QUICK FACTS
Lessons: 28
Short Quizzes: 28
Complete in as little as 4 months
Curriculum Breakdown
Your Online Pharmacy Technician School Classes are broken down into 5 units.
Students learn about the role of the pharmacy technician in the medical field, distinguishing between the pharmacist’s and pharmacy technician’s scope of practice. Then, students begin the important work of developing their medical vocabulary. They practice using common symbols and abbreviations, as well as medical root words, prefixes and suffixes. After an overview of the human body’s organ systems, students build on their communication skills. Students learn about the laws and regulations that govern the pharmacy practice, as well as the benefits of a professional code of ethics to guide them in making good decisions. They access and use information sources to find new drugs and to assist patients with medication advice. Finally, students discover the duties of the pharmacy technician in a variety of settings.
Students learn about the many types of drug dosage forms, how drugs react in the body and how drugs interact with other drugs. Students read and interpret pharmacy terminology while learning about the two most important documents they will work with—the prescription and the medical order. Students’ drug vocabulary increases as they explore the challenges of prescribing drugs to the very old and the very young. Students then discover the procedures to prevent medication errors and what to do when a negative reaction or poisoning occurs. Students walk behind the scenes to discover how pharmacies maintain control of drug inventory and dispensation, as well as fiscal management of the pharmacy, including financial transactions with third-party payers.
After discovering the various antimicrobial agents that affect the human body, students study vaccines and analgesic agents. Students also learn about nutrition and the role of vitamins in drug therapy. Then, they begin a serious exploration of the types of drug agents used to battle disease— neurologic, anesthetic and respiratory agents. This pack wraps up with a refresher course in basic mathematics and pharmaceutical measurement systems.
Continuing their in-depth study of drug agents, students explore cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and endocrine agents. Before moving on, students encounter the second mathematics lesson, which teaches them how to determine the ratios, proportions, and equivalencies they will use to calculate drug dosages.
Students study the urinary system before wrapping up the study of drugs with antineoplastic agents. Students then learn the techniques to compound drugs in both a sterile and nonsterile environment. Parenterals and intravenous admixtures are explored. Students complete the course with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they’ve learned in their final practicum.
KimDao Collier, B.A., PharmD
Pharmacy Technician Program Instructor/Course Expert
Meet the Instructor
KimDao Collier is a pharmacist and serves as the instructor for the Pharmacy Technician course at U.S. Career Institute. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and further went on to receive her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, Colorado. KimDao currently works as a staff pharmacist at one of Intermountain Health Hospital’s Outpatient Pharmacies in the Denver area. She’s been in the pharmacy healthcare space for nearly 20 years starting as a pharmacy technician working and studying her way up to her current position. Along the path to her fulfilling career, she’s worked with amazing teachers and mentors that helped guide her on her journey and that’s what she wants to be to individuals who are looking to serve people in healthcare.
Meet the Instructor
KimDao Collier, B.A., PharmD
Pharmacy Technician Program Instructor/Course Expert
KimDao Collier is a pharmacist and serves as the instructor for the Pharmacy Technician course at U.S. Career Institute. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and further went on to receive her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, Colorado. KimDao currently works as a staff pharmacist at one of Intermountain Health Hospital’s Outpatient Pharmacies in the Denver area. She’s been in the pharmacy healthcare space for nearly 20 years starting as a pharmacy technician working and studying her way up to her current position. Along the path to her fulfilling career, she’s worked with amazing teachers and mentors that helped guide her on her journey and that’s what she wants to be to individuals who are looking to serve people in healthcare.
Very straightforward, organized, and professional presentation. I took the pharmacy technician online course and it was very informational and good preparation for the world of pharmacy. The staff were very friendly, helpful, and quick to respond. I highly recommend them!
Vanessa G.
Pharmacy Technician Student
Overachiever student It's a excellent school. I've done the pharmacy technician course at this school a few years ago and I loved it. The cost for the courses are reasonable. I love that you can study at your own pace. . There's help available whenever you need it ...Staff are very helpful...
T. Bowman
Pharmacy Technician Student
Career Outlook & Certification
Median Salary
$40,300*
Number of Jobs
463,900*
Job Growth by 2033
7%*
Certification
Upon graduation from our program, you will receive your U.S. Career Institute Certificate of Completion attesting to your accomplishment. U.S. Career Institute's online Pharmacy Technician certificate program prepares you to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Included with our Pharmacy Tech course, we cover the cost of your certification exam, study guide and practice test – a $218 value!+
State Requirements
A career in this field may require you to meet certain regulations and requirements for certification, training, registration, and licensure and varies by vocation and state. Some states may include additional requirements beyond those offered in our course. Prospective students should contact the regulatory agency in the state(s) where they plan to work to confirm their requirements before enrolling in this course. Not all states require licensure of Pharmacy Technicians. As of March 1, 2024, our program can be used to fulfill the education requirements and/or gain certification or licensure (or licensure is exempt) in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Residents of District of Columbia, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia will not be able to gain licensure as a result of this program.
IMPORTANT State Licensing Requirements: Licensure Information by State
Please visit the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) for links to individual state information.
Tuition & Financing
U.S. Career Institute is committed to making your pharmacy technician education affordable. Tuition includes electronic lesson books, supplements, instructor assistance, and career support for graduates. You can start your new career without a mountain of debt.
OPTION 1:
Pay In Full
$979
- SAVE $300
- Application charge is waived
5-day money-back commitment
OPTION 2:
Monthly Auto Payments
$1,279*
- $69 Monthly Payment
- First payment: $69**
5-day money-back commitment
*Plus one-time $29 application charge.
**First payment includes $40 down payment and $29 application charge. Application charge is non-refundable.
Money-Back Commitment
U.S. Career Institute offers an iron clad money-back commitment to its students. After you receive your first lesson, you have 5 full days to review and evaluate. After reviewing the lesson, if you think our program is not the best route for you; contact us, return any materials and we will refund the full amount paid. No questions asked.
FAQs
To become a pharmacy technician, you usually have a high school diploma or equivalent like a GED. Formal training through an accredited institution can also help when looking for employment.
After completing a program, the next step is to take and pass an industry certification exam, like the PTCE, through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the
Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) through the National Healthcare Association (NHA). USCI’s online pharmacy technician program
prepares students to take either of these two exams. To learn more, check out our blog “How to Become a Pharmacy Technician.”
Pharmacy technicians work under pharmacists and are responsible for several tasks, including dispensing prescription medications. To learn more about the duties they are responsible for read our blog “Pharmacy Technician VS. Pharmacist.”
While it depends on what state you live in, most places require some form of certification to work as a pharmacy technician. You can review the Pharmacy Technician Requirements by State to determine what is required where you live.
A career in this field may require you to meet certain licensing, training, and other requirements that can vary by vocation and state. You should check with your state, local government and/or licensing board to find out which requirements may be applicable in your state.
IMPORTANT State Licensing Requirements: Click here for more information.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pharmacy Technicians have a median salary of $40,300*.
The cost of a pharmacy technician program depends on the program, but USCI proudly offers an affordable online option that costs only $979 when you pay in full! Payment plans are also available!
U.S. Career Institute is Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
Demand for pharmacy technicians can be found in retail pharmacies, drug stores, hospitals, and much more! Learn about where you could work in our blog “Where can a Pharmacy Technician Work.”
Skills covered in the Pharmacy Technician Program include pharmacy procedures, drug interactions and reactions, an overview of various drug categories, pharmacy law, compounding, and other Allied Health basics.
When you enroll in our self-paced pharmacy technician program, you choose how much you study each week. You can complete our program in as little as 4 months, on average, our online Pharmacy Technician program is completed in 9 months!
We firmly believe that USCI is the top online pharmacy technician school in the nation. Our curriculum is laid out in easy to learn step-by-step lessons. When you graduate you will be prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
