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Course Objectives Job Outlook FAQs Prerequisites Curriculum

Become a Pharmacy Technician

There’s no shortage of pharmacies in need of skilled pharmacy technicians! This 100% online pharmacy technician course will prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) National Certification exam and help you complete a practicum experience with a leading pharmacy chain. 

Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for pharmacy technicians will grow 8% through 2032—that equates to over 30,000 new jobs!
• The BLS notes that the average pharmacy technician salary is $32,700, with top earners making up to $47,000 per year.

Pharmacy Technicians FAQs

WHAT DOES A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN DO?

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.

DO PHARMACY TECHNICIANS NEED A CERTIFICATION?

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.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN COURSE?

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.

IS A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN A GOOD CAREER?

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.

Course Objectives

• Develop the knowledge and skills to excel as a pharmacy technician and perform all related tasks and responsibilities with confidence.
• Gain practical knowledge of medication processing and handling procedures including the ability to identify medication orders and read prescription forms accurately.
• Learn federal and state laws that govern pharmacies, as well as the ethics of pharmacy practice.
• Be fully prepared to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB, and earn your Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPht) credential.
• Become eligible for a 100+hour practicum experience to further enhance your professional skills.

Prerequisites and Requirements

There are no prerequisites to take this course. However, the externship requires that you have a high school diploma and be at least 18 years old. 

Curriculum

1. Medical Terminology
   1. Introduction to Medical Terminology
   2. The Musculoskeletal System
   3. The Cardiovascular System
   4. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
   5. The Respiratory System
   6. The Digestive System
   7. The Urinary System
   8. The Nervous System
   9. The Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
   10. The Integumentary System
   11. The Endocrine System
   12. The Reproductive System
   13. Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
2. Pharmacy Technician
   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

Melissa Dunworth

Melissa Dunworth has been a certified pharmacy technician since 1997. She is registered with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences.

Betty Stahl

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 Zentaz

Lorraine Zentz holds a bachelor’s degree in science (Biology/Chemistry), a master’s degree in education (Curriculum and Instruction), and Colorado Teaching License for middle and high school science and math. She is the original author of the Cengage Pharmacy Technician Program, facilitating students from 2003–2018. Working in hospital pharmacies for 30 years, along with teaching, has been her passion and remains so to this day.

Registration and Enrollment

This course is 100% online. Start anytime.