{"id":5486,"date":"2026-01-07T20:55:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/?page_id=5486"},"modified":"2026-01-07T20:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:55:27","slug":"online-pharmacy-technician-certification-prep","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/online-pharmacy-technician-certification-prep\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Pharmacy Technician Certification Prep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Become a Pharmacy Technician<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/product-ges117-pharmacy-tech-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Woman smiling at camera wearing a white coat.\" class=\"wp-image-5487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/product-ges117-pharmacy-tech-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/product-ges117-pharmacy-tech-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/product-ges117-pharmacy-tech-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/product-ges117-pharmacy-tech-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/product-ges117-pharmacy-tech.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-efcaff0bc37de688c044e1578299d835 wp-block-paragraph\">This 100% online pharmacy technician course will prepare you for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)\u2014exam voucher included. Your training helps you understand how to assist the pharmacist in the packing and distribution of medication. You will obtain hands-on practice in retail pharmacy procedures through an online lab module.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-02b387d288aab8d316a769c027235bc6 wp-block-paragraph\">Pharmacy technician training covers the ethics of pharmacy practice and education about prescription medications, patient care and interaction, and charges and reimbursement. You will also have the option to perform a hands-on, 100-hour Clinical Experience. <em>Clinical Experiences are based on individual state board requirements, see requirements below<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-button alignnone\"><a class=\"wp-block-advgb-button_link advgbbtn-a4b5a222-12e1-415e-9fdd-b1543bc51e26\" href=\"https:\/\/careertraining.tarleton.edu\/training-programs\/pharmacy-technician\/?utm_source=ppi&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=tarleton&amp;utm_term=GES117\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>ENROLL NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-52dabf3e4f3f9540878bb2814a462f76 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18e69f7bc85c023e8a2b87f19adbff0e wp-block-paragraph\">According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for pharmacy technicians will grow 6% through 2032, faster than the average rate for all other professions (3%). Over the decade, around 44,900 jobs for pharmacy technicians are expected annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2e072eff69f003fd5194343e080a0c4c wp-block-paragraph\">The BLS notes that, on average, the annual salary for pharmacy technicians is $40,300 (as of May 2023), with the top 10% earning more than $57,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-accordions advgb-accordions-e87c1053-ecc5-4ebe-87cb-b2509bbdcb18 advgb-accordion-wrapper\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a6db287e0f135e698a6503a3e87ea50f wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pharmacy Technicians FAQs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong><strong>What is a pharmacy technician? What does a pharmacy technician do?<\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>Do pharmacy technicians need certification?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019 requirements.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong><strong>How long does it take to complete a pharmacy technician course?<\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pharmacy technician training can be completed in one year or less. This does not include the time you spend in Clinical Experience or preparing and sitting for state licensure.<br><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong><strong>Is a pharmacy technician a good career?<\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d100bcb33086965a6cddf6e1e8949c96 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Course Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-aa32007509183cb5eae885ae117c8ba6\">Develop a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacy technician role, including essential professional skills and communication expectations necessary for success in a pharmacy setting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b9dd20fd9d43b5a161e6dfe54cdae284\">Understand pharmacy regulations and standards from regulatory agencies and professional associations to ensure patient safety, high-quality care, and proper medication handling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a78b39311ad90f5f179966be3beb9e90\">Gain practical knowledge of medication processing and handling procedures, including the ability to identify medication orders and read prescription forms accurately<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-91d7f97115b71e8ae6b66e1d022a2df9\">Learn about medication storage guidelines and quality assurance procedures in the pharmacy department<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0c97512eeea9e0743abc78d1912bf1c8\">Develop essential skills for success as a pharmacy technician, including accuracy, attention to detail, and effective communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-90d71fa5aeb9a8de5a99f203e0b104d6\">Prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)&#8217;s Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and earn the highly respected Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential upon successful completion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-button alignnone\"><a class=\"wp-block-advgb-button_link advgbbtn-966496ed-0a11-4bdf-9a5c-e21922ffcbe9\" href=\"https:\/\/careertraining.tarleton.edu\/training-programs\/pharmacy-technician\/?utm_source=ppi&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=tarleton&amp;utm_term=GES117\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>ENROLL NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prerequisites and Certification Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b1bea5e4566464a80ca87653e79ce170 wp-block-paragraph\">To register for this course, you must be 18 years of age or older. You should be proficient in keyboarding (approximately 35 words per minute), have a basic understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word is recommended), have a command of English grammar and punctuation, and have a basic understanding of high school math.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b9f7825c7a474eb8fa379ff32f6c5706 wp-block-paragraph\">To participate in the competency activities and receive feedback from your instructor, you will need to have access to a video camera (on the phone or other device of familiarity) and be able to upload the video as an .mp4 file to the assignment pages for review. These activities are required in order to pass the course successfully.<br><br><strong>Certification Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22884d1e36c8e1b9962bf05f99c5c9ad\">Passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam\u00ae (PTCE\u00ae)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e9cdc798251202c8f5bb174776c31035\">Reside in the United States of America or its territories (US)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8850984bd8657cd778db497261be735c\">Completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education\/Training Program or equivalent Practicum Experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f739c85c2e5732441dbc1eb129d2b0a9\">Full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-88986664aa8667151d414c8d07a71734\">Compliance with all applicable PTCB Certification policies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cf807c6fd66cc8bad369aeca4e59a4bd wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>State Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c8de1f5eadf0d575f983d3a39e494dde wp-block-paragraph\">You must ensure that the Pharmacy Technician course meets your state&#8217;s requirements. For more information, visit your state&#8217;s Board of Pharmacy site or view a map directly from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptcb.org\/resources\/state-regulations-and-map\">Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)<\/a> website. You can also call the state board and ask for the current technician regulations. <strong><em>This course does not meet state requirements for students intending to work in North Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. <\/em><\/strong><em>Please note that PTCB credentials are designed for use exclusively in the US. Therefore, PTCB exams are generally only administered in the US. Active members of the US military and their spouses are an exception and are eligible to test anywhere in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1ebc29b82e999fba5b9d6c19d822847b wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Clinical Experience Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5147efc0a56b1554947e8858df5710b6 wp-block-paragraph\">As a student in our Pharmacy Technician course, you&#8217;ll have the opportunity to participate in our exclusive Clinical Experience, which provides a valuable advantage in today&#8217;s competitive job market. Through our nationwide agreement with several pharmacies, you can gain hands-on experience and assist pharmacists with prescriptions, patient inquiries, and administrative tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-03f781f00ee7d2ced3f6efa01c29cce4 wp-block-paragraph\">To qualify for the Clinical Experience, you will need to meet certain requirements, including passing a drug screening test, obtaining professional liability insurance, completing a background check and employment verification, meeting current immunization standards, and conforming with state mandates such as registration, fingerprinting, licensing, etc. Additional forms may be necessary for participation in the Clinical Experience with certain pharmacies. Please note that while we strive to find available openings, a Clinical Experience placement is not guaranteed for the Pharmacy Technician course and may take up to 12 weeks to secure. <em>As a candidate, you should start applying for the PTBC Trainee License 2 weeks before you take the final exam in the course.<br><\/em><br><strong>Instructors<\/strong><em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6745917ffa3d17a54decf26cf9119e54\">Carline Dalgleish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ed20267206ffa1ead89cecf93fb2835\">Sharon L. Blackford<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-99354250102ebd228a63704760bd685e\">Stacey O&#8217;Brien<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8cf1a2e1177d1cfe02fab6d62270d961\">Leahnata Davis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-fb40303ae1817bc3bb45f64016702725\">Kate Moura Dos Santos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-592ffb593ce8e068f775a530c4dc540a\">Alexis M. Ramirez<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b3b4b376b382be1596e56b7e941fd6b6\">Mary Mould<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d3a732aa565d595e233a47e1ff2dca62\">Melissa Dunworth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a619904d137b6aa39dbb7e560e2540f8\">Betty Stahl<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4334eb6a072f0a83e093ab1b09953087\">Lorraine Zentz<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2256f701504d4192303dad09ce428986 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Instructor Interaction:<\/strong> The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0f033f3f63ed5cf382d90f57496034ca wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Registration and Enrollment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-tarleton-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4477f4c13375304c1940b58e7ac55d9b wp-block-paragraph\">This course is 100% online. Start anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-advgb-button alignnone\"><a class=\"wp-block-advgb-button_link advgbbtn-ab23fd69-ef6a-47a2-bbee-a3d3e797cc86\" href=\"https:\/\/careertraining.tarleton.edu\/training-programs\/pharmacy-technician\/?utm_source=ppi&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=tarleton&amp;utm_term=GES117\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span>ENROLL NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/pharmacy-tech-cert-board.jpg\" alt=\"Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PCTB) logo.\" class=\"wp-image-5488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/pharmacy-tech-cert-board.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/152\/2026\/01\/pharmacy-tech-cert-board-300x127.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<style class=\"advgb-styles-renderer\">.advgbbtn-a4b5a222-12e1-415e-9fdd-b1543bc51e26{font-size:18px;color:#fff !important;background-color:#4f2d7f !important;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px !important;padding:10px 30px 10px 30px;border-width:1px !important;border-style:none;border-radius:50px !important;}.advgbbtn-a4b5a222-12e1-415e-9fdd-b1543bc51e26:hover{box-shadow:1px 1px 12px 0px #ccc;opacity:1;transition:all 0.2s ease;}.advgbbtn-a4b5a222-12e1-415e-9fdd-b1543bc51e26 > i {font-size:30px;color:inherit;float:left;margin-right:7px;}.advgbbtn-966496ed-0a11-4bdf-9a5c-e21922ffcbe9{font-size:18px;color:#ffffff !important;background-color:#4f2d7f !important;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px !important;padding:10px 30px 10px 30px;border-width:1px !important;border-style:none;border-radius:50px !important;}.advgbbtn-966496ed-0a11-4bdf-9a5c-e21922ffcbe9:hover{box-shadow:1px 1px 12px 0px #ccc;opacity:1;transition:all 0.2s ease;}.advgbbtn-966496ed-0a11-4bdf-9a5c-e21922ffcbe9 > i {font-size:30px;color:inherit;float:left;margin-right:7px;}.advgbbtn-ab23fd69-ef6a-47a2-bbee-a3d3e797cc86{font-size:18px;color:#fff !important;background-color:#4f2d7f !important;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px !important;padding:10px 30px 10px 30px;border-width:1px !important;border-style:none;border-radius:50px !important;}.advgbbtn-ab23fd69-ef6a-47a2-bbee-a3d3e797cc86:hover{box-shadow:1px 1px 12px 0px #ccc;opacity:1;transition:all 0.2s ease;}.advgbbtn-ab23fd69-ef6a-47a2-bbee-a3d3e797cc86 > i {font-size:30px;color:inherit;float:left;margin-right:7px;}<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pursue certification as a dental assistant by passing the radiology, infection control, and anatomy and physiology portions of the NELDA or CDA examinations. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":832,"featured_media":580,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","_wds_title":"","_wds_metadesc":"","_wds_focus-keywords":"","_wds_meta-robots-adv":"","_wds_meta-robots-noindex":false,"_wds_meta-robots-nofollow":false,"_wds_meta-robots-index":false,"_wds_meta-robots-follow":false,"_wds_autolinks-exclude":false,"_wds_canonical":"","_wds_redirect":"","_wds_opengraph":[],"_wds_twitter":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5486","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/author\/eking\/","display_name":"eking"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 5 months ago","modified":"Updated 5 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on January 7, 2026","modified":"Updated on January 7, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on January 7, 2026 8:55 pm","modified":"Updated on January 7, 2026 8:55 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/832"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5486"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5489,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5486\/revisions\/5489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/extendeded\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}