The Online Pharmacy Technician Certification Program

You’ll be a critical part of keeping the pharmacy running smoothly. A day in your new life will include assisting and working under the guidance of a pharmacist to fill prescriptions, manage patient records, and submit insurance claims, among other things. Over time, you’ll likely take on more responsibilities, possibly offering flu shots or taking a more active role with patient consultations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for pharmacy technicians is $37,790 per year.

Terrific, as a matter of fact! Healthcare is one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries. Snowballing along with it are pharmacy technician jobs, especially for those with formal training or certification. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 6% growth in pharmacy technician jobs in the next 10 years.*

If your program is thorough, you should get all the info you’ll need to pass the test. So hit the books, take solid notes, and cram before the big day. You’ll also find plenty of practice tests online—take advantage of these to get an idea of how you’ll do on the real deal.

Regulations and requirements vary by state. However, our pharmacy technician program ensures that you’ll be ready to start working no matter where you live. (The only exception being Washington state, where our program is not recognized. Please refer to your state’s Board of Pharmacy website for guidelines.) Getting your pharmacy technician certification online is always a plus. It improves your employment opportunities and sets you apart from – and above – other job candidates.

If you’ve earned your pharmacy technician certification, there’s a handful of paths you could follow: Retail pharmacy, closed-door pharmacy, compound pharmacy, and hospital pharmacy. You could even become a pharmacy benefit manager—the path you choose all comes down to your strengths and primary interests.

If you’re wondering how to become a certified pharmacy technician, there’s a clear pathway with few hurdles. No specific skills or experience are required. Just be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate. Optionally, you can pass the CareerStep Pre-Training Assessment Test. Then sign up for our pharmacy technician classes online and complete the required background check and drug test. Successfully complete your training and clinical externship, take the certification exam, then let us help in your job search.

Yes, clinical hours are an essential component of your training—particularly as you work towards certification and potential employment. They give you a chance to test your current skill level and put all your new knowledge to work in real-world settings.

CareerStep does not guarantee externships. A learner’s placement in and completion of an externship is solely the learner’s responsibility and may be subject to additional requirements, such as a background check and successful completion of a CareerStep course.

As a pharmacy technician, you’ll be handling medications and providing patient care. For obvious reasons, you can’t be addicted to medications to do the job. Additionally, you cannot have been convicted of a felony or of Medicare fraud. We help you complete your tests and checks prior to signing up to ensure that you’re employable in the pharmacy field.