Introducing: Penn Foster’s Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma Program
While PCDI is no longer accepting enrollments in our Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma Program, we’re excited to introduce you to our partner school, Penn Foster.
Start your healthcare career in a pharmacy with Penn Foster’s online Pharmacy Technician Training Program. Learn important skills and knowledge needed to pass certification exams like PTCE and ExCPT. Our program covers various topics including medical terms, managing patient records, and assisting pharmacists with office tasks. Prepare for competitive salaries in this field with our flexible online classes. If you need an ASHP/ACPE accredited program, our Pharmacy Technician Professional Career Diploma meets state requirements and lets you study at your own pace.
LEARN MOREGet a Big Dose of Job Satisfaction
Learn about Pharmacy Technician with our online certificate program. Study at home and at your own pace. Through our program, you’ll learn the essential knowledge that can help you take the first steps toward a new career and help you get ready to sit for industry certification!
Why Penn Foster?
Penn Foster has been on a mission to help people like you obtain skills and achieve their career goals for more than 130 years. We provide students with a quality education that fits their busy lifestyle and budget, offering over 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs across our College, Career School, and High School. Every course is designed to work with your schedule, anytime, anywhere you want to study. With a focus on relevant skills and career prep for the job you’re after, Penn Foster can help you graduate with confidence and help provide a guide towards your career goals.
What You'll Learn in Penn Foster’s Online Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma Program
- How to demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role, including anatomy/physiology and pharmacology.
- How to compare the roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in ensuring pharmacy department compliance with professional standards and relevant legal, regulatory, formulary, contractual, and safety requirements.
- How to describe the steps, skills, and knowledge needed to prepare medications requiring compounding of sterile products, chemotherapy/hazardous products, and nonsterile products.
- How to study and prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
Penn Foster’s Online Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma Program
In our online Pharmacy Technician Training Program, you'll learn the skills required to pursue a career in this field. Your courses include:
- Pharmacy Technician Orientation
- Career Readiness
- Pharmacology, Drug Class, and Body Systems, Part 1
- Pharmacology, Drug Class, and Body Systems, Part 2
- Pharmacy Practice Law and Regulations
Learn More About the Penn Foster Experience
At Penn Foster, we think online learning can make a big difference in people's lives, and it should be available to everyone. That's why we've made our programs affordable and tailored to fit your needs. You can learn and improve your skills for the job you want, all at your own pace and on your own schedule.
Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma Program FAQs
With training and experience, some pharmacy technicians can earn as much as $37,790 per year and job growth is projected to increase by 6% over the next 10 years.*
Pharmacy technician jobs can be found in a variety of environments such as local, national and private hospitals, drug stores, grocery stores, nursing homes as well as other medical facilities.
We keep our program costs low and have special offers to keep your goals within reach. For as little as $899, our program also includes a PTCE practice test voucher (a $29 value) and the PTCE exam (a $129 value) included in your tuition. Visit our tuition page for the most current tuition information.
Yes! Penn Foster has been accredited for over 50 years. Penn Foster has been thoroughly reviewed and has earned several important accreditations, certifications, and licensing. Most importantly, Penn Foster Career School is both regionally accredited for non-degree granting postsecondary programs and nationally accredited by the DEAC.
Skills covered in the Pharmacy Technician Training Program include fundamentals of pharmacy and pharmacology, medical laws, ethics, regulations, and confidentiality, management and operations, math for pharmacists, body systems, and soft skills like customer service, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication.
How long it takes to become a pharmacy technician depends on how long you need to complete the program and sit for your PTCE exam.
Penn Foster offers two qualifications: a pharmacy technician career diploma and pharmacy technician professional career diploma. The main difference between the two is that the professional track includes an externship. While it takes longer to complete, the externship can provide you with valuable experience as well as a jump start on getting hired. However, the career diploma can help you get started in your career faster while still providing similar coursework to help you sit for certification exams.
The length of time it takes to complete your course will depend on how quickly or slowly you can complete your studies. If you fast track, it can take as little as 3 months, however, on average, the pharmacy technician career diploma takes about 8 months.
While credentials will vary from state to state, most pharmacy technicians will need a minimum of a high school diploma and certification. Check with your state licensing agency for a full list of requirements.
Sources:
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Pharmacy Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed October 2, 2023.
Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.
