Author: pharmacytechnicianschools

The appeal of online pharmacy technician programs is easy to understand. You can study on your own schedule, skip the commute, and often finish faster than a traditional campus program. But not all online programs are created equal, and enrolling in the wrong one can cost you time, money, and your shot at certification.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• What accreditation actually means for pharmacy technician programs, and why it matters
• How hands-on training works when you study online
• The red flags that signal a low-quality or predatory program
• What legitimate online programs look like, and how to compare them

Why Accreditation Is the First Thing to Check

Before you look at tuition costs, schedules, or school rankings, check accreditation. For pharmacy technician programs, the two accrediting bodies that matter are:

• ASHP/ACPE - The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education jointly accredit pharmacy technician programs. This is the gold standard.
• PTAC - The Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission also accredits programs and is recognized by major employers and certification bodies.

Why does this matter so much? The PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam), administered by PTCB, and the ExCPT, administered by NHA, are the two national certification exams employers recognize. While you don’t technically need to graduate from an accredited program to sit for every version of these exams, many states and employers require it, and that trend is growing. Graduating from a non-accredited program is a risk that could limit your job options before you even start.

You can verify accreditation status directly on the ASHP and PTAC websites before enrolling anywhere.

How Externships Work in Online Programs

This is the question most prospective students have, and it’s a fair one: if the program is online, how do you get real-world experience?

The answer is that reputable online programs separate coursework from clinical training. You complete the didactic portion (pharmacology, drug interactions, pharmacy law, calculations, and billing) through an online learning platform. Then, you complete an externship (also called a practicum) at a local pharmacy site arranged either by the school or by you with school approval.

Here’s what that typically looks like:

The externship is non-negotiable. Any program that claims you can complete your pharmacy technician training entirely online with no in-person component should be treated with serious skepticism. Hands-on experience is required by most state boards and is essential for actually performing the job.

When evaluating a school, ask directly: Do you help place students in externship sites, or am I responsible for finding my own? The better programs have established partnerships with retail chains, hospital pharmacies, and independent pharmacies to help connect students with sites.

Learn more about pharmacy technician careers.

Red Flags to Watch For

The online education space has its share of low-quality and predatory programs. Here are the warning signs that a pharmacy technician program may not be worth your investment:

• No accreditation from ASHP/ACPE or PTAC - If a school can’t point to recognized accreditation, walk away.
• No externship requirement - As noted above, a fully online-only program isn’t preparing you for the real job.
• Vague or missing graduation and job placement data - Legitimate programs can tell you their completion rates and where graduates work.
• Pressure to enroll immediately - High-pressure sales tactics and limited-time offers are a sign a school is more interested in your tuition than your career.
• Unusually low cost with big promises - A $299 “certification program” found through a social media ad is not the same as an accredited pharmacy technician program.
• No state approval - Many states require schools to be approved by the state board of pharmacy or a state education agency. Check your state’s requirements before enrolling.

Explore what it’s like to work as a pharmacy technician.

What Legitimate Online Programs Look Like

Reputable online pharmacy technician programs share a few common traits. They are transparent about accreditation, provide externship support, publish outcome data, and prepare you specifically for the PTCE or ExCPT exam.

Some well-regarded schools offering online pharmacy technician programs include:

• Penn Foster - ASHP/ACPE accredited, self-paced, externship required
• Purdue Global - Regionally accredited with pharmacy tech coursework built for working adults
• NHA (National Healthcareer Association) - Offers exam prep and partners with training programs
• Community colleges - Many offer hybrid or online-first pharmacy tech programs with local externship connections; often the most affordable route

Community college programs in particular deserve a closer look. They tend to be accredited, affordable (often $2,000-$5,000 total), and well-connected to local pharmacy employers. The tradeoff is that they may have set class schedules and limited seats.

How to Compare Programs Before You Commit

Once you’ve confirmed accreditation, use this checklist to compare your options side by side:

• Is the program approved in your state?
• What is the total cost, including fees and materials?
• How long does it take to complete, and is it self-paced?
• Does the school help place students in externship sites?
• What is the first-time PTCE or ExCPT pass rate for graduates?
• Is financial aid or payment plans available?
• What student support is offered (tutoring, advisors, career services)?

Don’t hesitate to call admissions and ask these questions directly. How a school responds, and whether they can answer clearly, tells you a lot about how they’ll treat you as a student.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I get licensed as a pharmacy technician with an online degree?

A: In most states, yes, as long as the program meets your state’s training hour requirements and includes an in-person externship. Requirements vary significantly by state, so always check with your state board of pharmacy before enrolling.

Q: How much do online pharmacy technician programs typically cost?

A: Accredited programs generally range from $2,000 to $15,000 depending on the school type. Community colleges tend to be the most affordable option. Be cautious of programs at either extreme - suspiciously cheap programs often lack accreditation, while very expensive ones don’t necessarily offer better outcomes.

Q: Will online pharmacy tech credits transfer if I want to advance my career later?

A: Possibly, but it depends on the receiving institution. If you think you may eventually want to pursue a pharmacy or healthcare management degree, look for programs at regionally accredited schools, as their credits are more widely transferable than those from nationally accredited institutions.

Without the help of pharmacy technicians, patient care would be compromised and the pharmacy profession would crumble. This may sound like a bold statement, but the vital importance of pharmacy technicians can't be understated. Read on to find out why pharmacy techs are needed more than ever.

1. Pharmacy Techs Save Lives With Their Compounding Expertise

Nowadays, pharmacy technicians are mainly the ones who compound medications for patients, especially IV medications. They have the dexterity and adaptability in this working environment. They are mostly on their feet while they are working in the IV room. Due to the critical nature of the drugs, they must be made in a sterile environment and per protocol for certain drugs.

For example, with the COVID-19 pandemic, technicians prepare a novel COVID-19 medication, named Remdesivir, and it has short stability; hence, they have to communicate with both the nurse and pharmacist before making it. Some technicians work to make specialized hazardous medications, such as chemotherapy agents. These medications can be toxic if accidentally spilled on the preparer or incorrectly made, as it could harm or delay recovery. Many precautions are taken to avoid accidents from occurring in this arena. In addition, these medications tend to be high cost, upwards of thousands of dollars per vial, which require extra attention to avoid waste. Oftentimes, most patients know the nurses that administer the medications or the doctor that they see but may not think about other critical staff members who are behind the scenes. Hence, it is important to know that we have pharmacy technicians to thank and recognize for making it possible to get medications to patients.

2. Pharmacy Techs Prevent Medication Errors by Retrieving Appropriate Medication History

One of the advanced pharmacy tech roles is a medication history pharmacy technician in a hospital setting. When patients arrive at a hospital, most patients are either incoherent or unprepared to provide their full medical and medication history to the healthcare team. In addition, there are circumstances where doctors and nurses don't have time to take a full, complete medication history. This could lead to medication errors, delays in care, or adverse health outcomes from inappropriate treatment due to lack of information.

A medication history pharmacy technician is a dedicated healthcare team member who takes the necessary time to talk with the patient and their family members to retrieve an accurate medication history. Patients may be upset with a pharmacy technician if they have to repeat themselves if they have already talked to a nurse or a doctor. However, for one's safety, it is worth the effort – especially if the technician deems the information to be incomplete. Sometimes, a call to the patient's home pharmacy may be needed to retrieve the information, as the patient may not recall the actual dose or name of the medication, or it may have been entered incorrectly.

By getting the medication history right at admission, it will help with the discharge process of going home as well, where doctors can either safely resume home medications or change them depending on the patient’s therapy. When healthcare records are not shared between the health system institutions, doctor's office, and pharmacy, it is paramount to get a complete medication history to provide effective care. Having a medication history technician in the Emergency Department (ED) is a crucial decision to prevent medication errors and improve patient safety.

3. Pharmacy Techs Ensure Medications Are Available Despite Supply Chain Disruptions

Another advanced pharmacy tech role is the inventory specialist, who manages the purchasing of the medications. Due to natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances, medication supply may be limited, which impacts patient care and the ways doctors treat patients.

For example, with Hurricane Maria, 80 manufacturing industries were located in Puerto Rico, which disrupted chain supply to hospitals in the US. In 2018, during the flu season, basic IV fluid such as sodium chloride was in short supply. In these situations, the inventory specialists collaborate with pharmacy leadership and the healthcare team to alleviate the stress on patient care. When a commercial product becomes unavailable, it falls back on pharmacy technicians to compound these items in bulk, which creates extra stress as it is an additional workload to their already hectic workflow. The inventory specialist serves as an important gatekeeper for inventory management and acts as a leader in the drug supply chain to ensure patients get their medications when they are needed.

Being a pharmacy technician is a very stimulating and challenging, yet rewarding role. Overall, pharmacy technicians are the lifelines to the industry of the pharmacy, as they help pharmacists to practice at the top of their profession. Without pharmacy technicians, patients would suffer by not having their treatment when they need it. The bottom line is that pharmacy technicians play a vital role in delivering effective care while maintaining patient safety. Let's recognize them each day and not just on #RxTechDay!

Phuoc Anne Nguyen, PharmD, MS, BCPS

Phuoc Anne Nguyen is a passionate pharmacy leader who wants to enhance the pharmacy profession and financial literacy. She has had a wide range of experiences including community independent pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy leadership, and academia.

Yes. Pharmacy technicians are trained to prepare, package, mix, and distribute medications, among other duties. Dispensing a drug, according to the North Carolina Public Health department, means to prepare and package a prescribed medication in a container and label the container with information that is required by state or federal law. Dispensing also includes the process of filling or refilling drug containers with prescribed medications for use by patients.

How Pharm Techs Dispense Medications

The process of dispensing medications to a patient is a detailed one that involves checks and double-checks by the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician. The first step is to enter the prescription information into the computer system (tech) including the patient name, prescribing doctor's information, medication, dose, and instructions to the patient as well as the number of medications. Most pharmacy management systems will automatically check the new medication order against any previous orders to identify contraindications or adverse drug-to-drug interactions. This information is then verified by a pharmacist, including the appropriateness of the medication for the patient.

RELATED: Pharmacy Technician vs Pharmacist

The technician or the pharmacy management system creates a label for the order and secures it to the container. The pharmacy technician then fills the container with the prescribed quantity of the medication and the pharmacist verifies the medication in the container. Medication information sheets are also printed for each dispensed medication.

What About Medication Counseling?

When the patient presents to purchase the medication, a pharmacy technician may conduct the sale of the medication, although that is not required in most states. If the medication is new to the patient, or even if it's a refill, the pharmacist will provide counseling to patients regarding the specific medication. Pharmacy technicians are not trained nor certified to provide medication counseling or information that is not pre-printed by the pharmacy management system.

Phuoc Anne Nguyen, PharmD, MS, BCPS

Phuoc Anne Nguyen is a passionate pharmacy leader who wants to enhance the pharmacy profession and financial literacy. She has had a wide range of experiences including community independent pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy leadership, and academia.