Prepare for an in-demand healthcare career! Potential funding with eligibility.
This Pharmacy Technician program was developed by a board-certified pharmacist and pharmacy technicians with years of experience. The elite training is one of the only pharmacy technician certification programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists® (ASHP) / Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)—meeting all 41 of their stringent objectives. The main purpose of this program is to prepare you to successfully pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam.
The pharmacy technician courses in this program are designed to help you master new concepts and stand out in the job market. To support your career goals, you’ll receive job-focused resources and guidance to help turn your training into employment opportunities. The required background check and drug test is also included. Upon successful completion of this program, you'll receive a free voucher for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam, a $129 value.
What You'll Learn
- Learn the pharmaceutical fundamentals: various drugs and their uses, physical effects, and modes of action.
- Master the math that goes into accurately formulating and safely dispensing drugs based on factors like a patient’s age and weight.
- Get to know the terminology and methods for compounding a variety of substances and the protocol for filling prescriptions.
- Understand the business side of pharmacies as well as the laws, regulations, and standards affecting pharmacy work.
Course FAQs
You’ll be a critical part of keeping the pharmacy running smoothly. A day in your new life will include assisting and working under the guidance of a pharmacist to fill prescriptions, manage patient records, and submit insurance claims, among other things. Over time, you’ll likely take on more responsibilities, possibly offering flu shots or taking a more active role with patient consultations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for pharmacy technicians is $43,460 per year.
Over the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 7% growth in jobs for pharmacy technicians, much faster than average.*
Regulations and requirements vary by state. However, our pharmacy technician program ensures that you’ll be ready to start working no matter where you live. (The only exception being Washington state, where our program is not recognized. Please refer to your state’s Board of Pharmacy website for guidelines.) Getting your pharmacy technician certification online is always a plus. It improves your employment opportunities and sets you apart from – and above – other job candidates.
Yes, clinical hours are an essential component of your training—particularly as you work towards certification and potential employment. They give you a chance to test your current skill level and put all your new knowledge to work in real-world settings.
CareerStep does not guarantee externships. A learner’s placement in and completion of an externship is solely the learner’s responsibility and may be subject to additional requirements, such as a background check and successful completion of a CareerStep course. This is particularly important for learners seeking to complete their externship in Alabama, District of Columbia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Please note that CareerStep will not sign agreements with sites in the above-referenced states or provide evidence of insurance to those sites.
As a pharmacy technician, you’ll be handling medications and providing patient care. For obvious reasons, you can’t be addicted to medications to do the job. Additionally, you cannot have been convicted of a felony or Medicare fraud.
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready, if you are paying for the course yourself or through your employer. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
If you are using WIOA funding to pay for this course, you will need to complete the ARIZONA@WORK funding process before starting the course.
This course is eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding through ARIZONA@WORK. To be eligible for WIOA funding, participants must be 18 or older, eligible to work in the United States, and meet income eligibility requirements, or must be unemployed, dislocated, or furloughed from work. To determine if you are eligible, please contact ARIZONA@WORK:
Funding is subject to availability.