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Online Pharmacy Technician Training

This course is 100% online   |   Start anytime

This online Ed2Go course, offered in cooperation with SDSU Global Campus, will help you prepare for your career as a certified pharmacy technician.

Become a Pharmacy Technician — 100% Online

Pharmacy technicians are needed across the country and in San Diego County. By participating in this online course, you’ll prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) National Certification exam and get help landing an externship with a leading pharmacy chain.

Course Objectives

This pharmacy technician training program will help you:

  • 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 practicum experience requires that you have a high school diploma and be at least 18 years old.

Registration and Enrollment

This course is 100% online. Start anytime.

Meet Your Instructors

Melissa Dunworth
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
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
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.

Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, demand for pharmacy technicians in the state of California is on the rise. It expects jobs to increase 13.3% through 2028 – this equates to over 5,000 new jobs in California and 3,740 job openings each year! Workforce analytics firm Burning Glass found that the greater San Diego County has one of the fastest-growing needs for pharmacy technicians. It estimates that demand for jobs will grow around 14% over the next decade.

Pharmacy technicians are able to earn a competitive salary as well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, on average, pharmacy technicians in San Diego County earn an annual salary of $45,780.

Pharmacy Technicians FAQs

What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?
Pharmacy technicians are responsible for ordering and stocking medications, preparing medications for distribution, and providing information to patients. As a pharmacy technician, you may perform some of the same duties as a pharmacist. However, you’ll still need your work overseen and approved by a pharmacist before any medications are dispensed to patients.

Do Pharmacy Technicians Need a Certification?
Requirements for pharmacy technicians vary by state, but most require certification, registration, or licensure. In California, pharmacy technicians are required to earn certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

How Much Time Is Needed To Complete a Pharmacy Technician Course?
This pharmacy technician course can be completed in one year or less, not including the time you spend in an externship program or preparing and sitting for PTCB licensure in the state of California.

Is Being a Pharmacy Technician a Good Career Choice?
U.S. News and World Report ranked “Pharmacy Technician” as #21 on its list of “Best Health Care Support Jobs.” 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.

This program is offered in partnership with a third-party provider responsible for marketing, outreach, recruitment, curriculum design, and/or instructional services. The courses are not eligible for degree credit at SDSU and are not taught by University faculty nor associated with any campus academic department.