Discover a rewarding career as a Pharmacy Technician.
Our school provides the hands-on pharmacy tech training you need to start making a difference helping others. Earn your certificate in as little as 9 months and be eligible to sit for PTCB exam.
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What is a Pharmacy Technician?
- Assists the Pharmacist in filling prescription medications, including measuring, packaging, and preparing labels
- Depending on the pharmacy setting, some compound or mix medications, such as IVs, creams, ointments, or liquids
- Processes insurance claims and tracks inventory
- Makes rounds at hospitals to give medications to patients
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists to prepare and provide medications for people. With their knowledge, they play a key role in providing communication between doctors, pharmacists and patients.
The day-to-day responsibilities of pharmacy technicians include working with patients, answering patient questions, distributing medications and performing administrative tasks.
Students in the Pharmacy Technician certificate program will learn a variety of skills to work as a successful pharmacy technician. Our pharmacy tech training classes are taught by experienced instructors while hands-on training and lab time prepares students to confidently perform the following tasks:
- Prepare a variety of medications, including counting tablets, and labeling packaging
- Compound/mix medications, including intravenous solutions
- Interact with physicians, nurses and medical assistants on prescription refill authorizations
- Operate automated dispensing equipment when filling prescription orders
- Make rounds in hospitals, giving medications to patients
- Receive electronic prescriptions from medical offices
- Handle computer order entry of prescriptions
- Verify complete and accurate prescriptions
- Take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Complete patient purchase transactions using point-of-sale systems
The Pharmacy Technician certificate program also prepares graduates to apply to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam (PTCB Exam). In order to start a career as a pharmacy technician, employment and/or licensure requirements vary by state; one route is to pass the PTCB Exam.
This Pharmacy Technician certificate program will prepare graduates to apply their skills in a number of different roles, such as:
- Pharmacy technician, also commonly referred to as a pharmacy tech or pharmacist tech
- Pharmacy clerk
- IV-certified pharmacy technician
Pharmacy techs can work in a variety of environments:
- Hospitals
- Retail pharmacies
- Mail-order pharmacies
- Assisted-living facilities
- In-home health environments
- Nursing homes
- Other healthcare facilities
Earn your Pharmacy Technician certificate in approximately 9 months
Pharmacy Technicians can work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, clinics and outpatient medical facilities.
Emma E.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN GRADUATE • EL PASO CAMPUS
Pima Medical has been the guiding force that has not just shaped my career but my entire life.
Michelle T.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN GRADUATE • RENTON CAMPUS
I highly recommend Pima Medical Institute for the support and programs they offer to help you achieve your goals and succeed in your career. Now I’m one of those graduates sharing my story to inspire others!
Amy D.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN GRADUATE • RENTON CAMPUS
I can’t thank Pima Medical enough for what they’ve done for me and my family. I wake up every morning excited to come to work and help people. I love what I do!
When comparing pharmacy technician programs in California, Pima Medical Institute stands out for its hands-on training, real-world experience and faculty who support you every step of the way. Our Pharmacy Technician program in Chula Vista and San Marcos prepares you to dispense medications, support pharmacists, and work confidently in retail or hospital pharmacy settings from day one. Your healthcare career in California starts here.
When comparing pharmacy technician programs in Colorado, Pima Medical Institute stands out for its hands-on training, real-world experience and faculty who support you every step of the way. Our Pharmacy Technician program in Colorado Springs and Denver prepares you to dispense medications, support pharmacists, and work confidently in retail or hospital pharmacy settings from day one. Your healthcare career in Colorado starts here.
When comparing pharmacy technician programs in Arizona, Pima Medical Institute stands out for its hands-on training, real-world experience and faculty who support you every step of the way. Our Pharmacy Technician program in Mesa and Tucson prepares you to dispense medications, support pharmacists, and work confidently in retail or hospital pharmacy settings from day one. Your healthcare career in Arizona starts here.
When comparing pharmacy technician programs in Nevada, Pima Medical Institute stands out for its hands-on training, real-world experience and faculty who support you every step of the way. Our Pharmacy Technician program in Las Vegas prepares you to dispense medications, support pharmacists, and work confidently in retail or hospital pharmacy settings from day one. Your healthcare career in Nevada starts here.
When comparing pharmacy technician programs in New Mexico, Pima Medical Institute stands out for its hands-on training, real-world experience and faculty who support you every step of the way. Our Pharmacy Technician program in Albuquerque prepares you to dispense medications, support pharmacists, and work confidently in retail or hospital pharmacy settings from day one. Your healthcare career in New Mexico starts here.
When comparing pharmacy technician programs in Texas, Pima Medical Institute stands out for its hands-on training, real-world experience and faculty who support you every step of the way. Our Pharmacy Technician program in El Paso, Houston and San Antonio prepares you to dispense medications, support pharmacists, and work confidently in retail or hospital pharmacy settings from day one. Your healthcare career in Texas starts here.
When comparing pharmacy technician programs in Washington, Pima Medical Institute stands out for its hands-on training, real-world experience and faculty who support you every step of the way. Our Pharmacy Technician program in Renton prepares you to dispense medications, support pharmacists, and work confidently in retail or hospital pharmacy settings from day one. Your healthcare career in Washington starts here.
The Pharmacy Technician program is offered at the following campuses:*
Arizona
Mesa
Tucson
California
Chula Vista
San Marcos
Colorado
Colorado Springs
Denver
Nevada
Las Vegas
New Mexico
Albuquerque
Texas
El Paso
Houston
San Antonio
Washington
Renton
*Not all programs are offered at all campuses
FAQs
Does Pima Medical’s Pharmacy Technician program offer online learning options?
Hybrid, often referred to as blended or partially online classes, are available at select campuses for the Pharmacy Technician program for students seeking greater schedule flexibility. Hybrid courses meet online three days a week and in person two days a week. However, externship components are completed fully in person. Although our Pharmacy Technician program is not fully online, our optional hybrid model prepares students with hands-on learning and real-world experience while still offering the flexibility of online programs.
Pima Medical’s Hybrid experience is a structured online education combined with hands-on lab practice and features:
- Flexibility to balance personal and professional obligations
- Hands-on learning in our real-world lab classrooms
- Online learning, led by instructors with years of experience in their fields
- Support services like mental health resources, tutoring and more
- Externship placement
- Ongoing support throughout your education and career
Is Pima Medical accredited?
Yes. Pima Medical Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). In addition, many of our individual programs hold programmatic accreditations specific to their fields, ensuring our students receive quality, industry-recognized education.
What are the steps to become a pharmacy technician?
- Enroll in a pharmacy technician program — Start by enrolling in an accredited pharmacy technician training program, like the one offered at Pima Medical Institute.
- Complete your coursework & hands-on training — The Pharmacy Technician program will cover everything from medication preparation and compounding to patient interaction and prescription processing.
- Finish your externship — Gain real-world experience in a live healthcare setting before you graduate.
- Apply to sit for your certification exam — Graduates of the Pharmacy Techncian program become eligible to apply to sit for the PTCB exam.
Pursue your career — With your certificate and certification in hand, you’re ready to pursue your pharmacy technician career and work in hospitals, retail pharmacies, assisted-living facilities, and more
What kind of financial aid is available?
There are a variety of funding options available to those who qualify, including federal grants, loans and scholarships. Our dedicated student finance team is here to help guide you through the entire process.
How does Pima Medical help with job placement after graduation?
While job placement is not guaranteed, our Career Services team is dedicated to helping students from enrollment all the way through graduation and beyond. Through resources like resume building, interview preparation, job search strategies and employer connections, we want to help you be successful. We have strong relationships with many of the major healthcare organizations across our markets.
What is the application process?
It’s as simple as filling out a form on the website or giving one of our admissions support specialists a call. From there, our team will assist you as you complete an application, schedule an admissions meeting, tour the campus (in-person or virtually), and take any required entrance assessments. From there, your advisor will walk you through enrollment and any additional program-specific requirements.
