California Pharmacy Tech Schools & Certification
Pharmacy technicians in California collect information from customers or medical professionals. They measure medications to fill prescriptions and package the medicine for customer pickup. This can be a rewarding job, as many customers rely on their medication to maintain their health and wellness. Other job duties include organizing inventory and noting shortages to bring to the pharmacist’s attention.
For those who like the idea of accepting payments, processing insurance claims, and answering customer questions, a career as a pharmacy technician may sound appealing. Skills needed for this job include knowledge of common medications, computer literacy, and customer service skills.
California Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements
State requirements for pharmacy technicians vary. In California, pharmacy techs must register with the California State Board of Pharmacy in order to accept employment as a pharmacy tech.
After completing the education and training requirements, techs can fill out the application for a pharmacy technician license, updated in 2020. The application requires a photo, training documentation, fingerprints, and a self-query. Successful candidates for pharmacy tech positions will have completed a high school diploma or GED. There are also several educational requirements that are specific to pharmacology, including:
- Associates degree in pharmacy technology
- Training specified by the board of pharmacy
- Graduation from a pharmacy school approved by the board
- PTCB certification
- Passing a criminal background check
To obtain licensure in California, pharmacy techs must complete training specified by the Board of Pharmacy. There are three ways to accomplish this:
- Program approved by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists
- Federal military service pharmacy technology certification
- Courses that include a minimum of 240 instruction hours and including:
- pharmacy practice settings
- pharmaceutical terminology
- dosage calculations
- identification of drugs
- prescription dispensing
- drug manufacturing, labeling, and packaging
Although many states require certification for pharmacy technicians, California does not. The state’s lawbook has pharmacy regulations that provide additional details about the requirements for pharmacy technicians
California Pharmacy Technician Careers & Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California is a great place to be a pharmacy technician. There are over 36,500 pharmacy techs in the Golden State, and the average annual salary is $45,200, about $21.73 per hour. California is the highest paying state for this profession. Other high-paying pharmacy tech positions can be found in Alaska, Washington, the District of Columbia and Oregon.
Nine of the top 10 areas with the highest paying salaries are in California, including:
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA at $51,090
- Santa Rosa, CA at $50,790
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA at $50,070
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA at $49,280
- Salinas, CA at $49,060
The BLS doesn’t break down the job outlook by state. However, it projects a 4% growth for the field through 2029. This tracks with the average for all jobs. This demand is based on a growing population of older adults who rely on prescription. With age, diabetes, chronic disease, and other health risks increase. Advances in research will increase the inventory of preventive medication and the demand for qualified pharmacy technicians. As pharmacists continue to assume new responsibilities for customer care, they will rely even more on pharmacy tech.
California Schools That Offer Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
School | Location | Contact |
---|---|---|
20122 Cabrillo Lane Cerritos, CA 90703 | (562) 809-9011 | |
12254 Cuesta Drive Cerritos, CA 90703 | (562) 229-7960 | |
4021 Rosewood Ave Los Angeles, CA 90004 | (323) 668-7555 | |
3130 Sedona Ct Ontario, CA 91764 | (909) 218-3253 | |
1200 N Magnolia Ave Anaheim, CA 92801 | (714) 763-9066 | |
6606 Pacific Blvd #204 Huntington Park, CA 90255 | (323) 585-9000 | |
11801 Pierce St #100 Riverside, CA 92505 | (888) 430-4224 | |
3041 W Ave K Lancaster, CA 93536 | (661) 722-6300 | |
1215 Howe Ave #101 Sacramento, CA 95825 | (916) 900-2850 | |
555 Broadway, Suite 144 Chula Vista, CA 91910 | (619) 498-4100 | |
2475 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 | (760) 778-3540 | |
4330 Watt Ave, Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95821 | (916) 649-8168 | |
2022 University Drive Vista, CA 92083 | (760) 630-1555 | |
5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, CA 90032 | (323) 343-3000 | |
500 Carson Plaza Dr Carson, CA 90746 | (310) 826-7622 | |
7851 Mission Center Court Suite #326 San Diego, CA 92108 | (858) 357-8800 | |
5500 University Parkway Sierra Hall 134 San Bernardino, CA 92407-2318 | (909) 537-5976 | |
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road San Marcos, CA 92069 | (188) 877-8492 x5 | |
9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311 | (661) 654-3036 | |
25800 Carlos Bee Blvd Hayward, CA 94542 | (510) 885-3000 | |
6300 E. State University Dr. Suite 104 Long Beach, CA 90815 | (800) 963-2250 | |
3699 Wilshire Blvd, 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90010 | (877) 770-4223 | |
11110 Alondra Blvd. Norwalk, CA 90650 | (562) 860-2451 | |
5885 Haven Avenue Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737-3002 | (909) 652-6000 | |
5451 Lemon Hill Avenue Sacramento, CA 95824 | (916) 643-7400 | |
50 Phelan Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112 | (415) 239-3000 | |
43-500 Monterey Ave Palm Desert, CA 92260 | (760) 346-8041 | |
925 13th Ave. Hanford, CA 93230 | (559) 583-2500 | |
4999 East Bardsley Avenue Tulare, CA 93274 | (559) 688-3000 | |
915 S. Mooney Blvd. Visalia, CA 93277 | (559) 730-3700 | |
4041 Lone Tree Way suite 101 Antioch, CA 94531 | (925) 757-2900 | |
8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, CA 95823 | (916) 691-7344 | |
CA-1 San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 | (805) 546-3100 | |
12345 El Monte Rd Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 | (650) 949-7777 | |
6400 Laurel Canyon Blvd # 270 North Hollywood, CA 91606 | (818) 509-9970 | |
1660 Chicago Ave N-1 Riverside, CA 92507 | (951) 683-8300 | |
1122 E. Garfield Avenue Glendale, CA 91205 | (818) 240-1000 | |
701 W Ave K #123 Lancaster, CA 93534 | (661) 940-9300 | |
17231 Gothard St Huntington Beach, CA 92647 | (714) 842-4227 | |
380 E. Aten Rd. Imperial, CA 92251 | (760) 352-8320 | |
1755 Hilltop Dr Redding, CA 96002 | (530) 224-1000 | |
2480 Hilborn Rd Suite 100 Fairfield, CA 94533 | (707) 421-9700 | |
9738 Lincoln Village Dr #120 Sacramento, CA 95827 | (916) 714-5400 | |
13356 Eldridge Avenue Sylmar, CA 91342 | (818) 364-7600 | |
1 Loyola Marymount University Dr Los Angeles, CA 90045 | (310) 338-2700 | |
255 W Bullard Ave Fresno, CA 93704 | (559) 323-2800 | |
1 Barnard Dr Oceanside, CA 92056 | (760) 757-2121 | |
3000 Mission College Boulevard Santa Clara, CA 95054-1897 | (408) 855-5083 | |
435 College Avenue Modesto, CA 95350 | (209) 575-6550 | |
980 Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 | (831) 646-4000 | |
1830 W. Romneya Drive Anaheim, CA 92801 | (714) 808-4645 | |
221 N Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91203 | (818) 696-0102 | |
3799 E Burnett St Long Beach, CA 90815 | (562) 546-5171 | |
134 W Holt Ave Pomona, CA 91768 | (909) 236-7106 | |
4550 La Sierra Ave Riverside, CA 92505 | (951) 324-4157 | |
1840 17th St Santa Ana, CA 92705 | (714) 795-2800 | |
14540 Haynes St Van Nuys, CA 91411 | (818) 975-4818 | |
2101 W Garvey Ave N West Covina, CA 91790 | (626) 343-5266 | |
780 Bay Blvd Chula Vista, CA 91910 | (800) 477-7462 | |
251 North City Drive Suite 122 San Marcos, CA 92078 | (800) 477-7462 | |
3600 Workman Mill Rd Whittier, CA 90601 | (562) 692-0921 | |
701 South Mount Vernon Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92410 | (909) 384-4400 | |
835 Market St San Francisco, CA 94103 | (415) 405-7700 | |
42135 10th St W #147 Lancaster, CA 93534 | (661) 974-8282 | |
201 New Stine Rd Bakersfield, CA 93309 | (661) 834-0126 | |
295 E Sierra Ave Fresno, CA 93710 | (559) 448-8282 | |
5380 Pirrone Rd Salida, CA 95368 | (209) 543-8800 | |
4580 Ontario Mills Pkwy Ontario, CA 91764 | (909) 948-7582 | |
27270 Madison Ave #103 Temecula, CA 92590 | (951) 296-6015 | |
9331 Mariposa Rd Hesperia, CA 92344 | (760) 948-1947 | |
8344 W Mineral King Ave Visalia, CA 93291 | (559) 651-2500 | |
250 S. G. Street San Bernardino, CA 92450 | (855) 558-1100 | |
1530 W. 17th Street Santa Ana, CA 92706-3398 | (714) 564-6000 | |
303 Plaza Dr Santa Maria, CA 93454 | (805) 922-8256 | |
1501 Mendocino Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95401-4395 | (707) 527-4011 | |
3737 Rosedale Hwy Bakersfield, CA 93308 | (661) 427-4300 | |
3401 Rio Hondo Ave El Monte, CA 91731 | (866) 322-3171 | |
5445 Balboa Blvd Van Nuys, CA 91316 | (818) 380-5900 | |
3602 N Blackstone Ave #268 Fresno, CA 93726 | (866) 322-3171 | |
661 W Redondo Beach Blvd Gardena, CA 90247 | (866) 322-3171 | |
1860 University Ave Riverside, CA 92507 | (866) 322-3171 | |
2085 Montiel Rd D-100 San Marcos, CA 92069 | (866) 322-3171 | |
333 Palmer Dr. Suite 200. Bakersfield, CA 93309 | (888) 912-8512 | |
1401 Willow Pass Rd Concord, CA 94520 | (888) 919-4220 | |
4670 Auto Mall Pkwy Fremont, CA 94538 | (888) 775-1514 | |
21615 Hesperian Blvd Hayward, CA 94541 | (855) 808-2732 | |
1111 Howe Ave #300 Sacramento, CA 95825 | (888) 518-6601 | |
6800 Santa Teresa Blvd #200 San Jose, CA 95119 | (800) 318-1550 | |
257 Longford Dr #5 South San Francisco, CA 94080 | (855) 811-6191 | |
8399 Topanga Canyon Blvd Ste 200 Canoga Park, CA 91304 | (818) 436-0019 | |
9000 Overland Avenue Culver City, CA 90230 | (310) 287-4200 | |
Bldg A-18, 9000 Overland Ave Culver City, CA 90230 | (310) 287-4475 |