Online Pharmacy Technician Program
As pharmacists take on more responsibility such as administering vaccinations, skilled pharmacy technicians will be needed to perform important duties. Day-to-day, pharmacy technicians are responsible for filling prescriptions, checking inventory and ordering supplies as necessary, and working directly with patients to ensure they receive the proper medications and understand any side effects. Through Ashworth’s online Pharmacy Technician Program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of being a pharmacy tech and build the skills you’ll need to be successful on the job. In self-paced, flexible courses, you’ll cover pharmacology, pharmaceutical calculations, and more while preparing to sit for the National Healthcareer Association's (NHA's) ExCPT Pharmacy Technician certification exam and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's (PTCB's) Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). You’ll also have an opportunity to apply what you learn to real-world situations through an externship with our partners, Walgreens and CVS/Pharmacy.
Online Pharmacy Technician Training Curriculum
Our self-paced, online Pharmacy Technician Training Program is designed by professionals with experience in the field to help you prepare to become a certified pharmacy technician. Throughout your courses, you’ll work to develop the skills you need to be successful on the job, as well as prepare for industry certification. Your online pharm tech courses include:
- Drug Classification and Pharmaceutical Calculations
- Pharmacology
- Community and Hospital Pharmacy Practice
- Laboratory Simulation and Certification Preparation
Learn more about curriculum, tuition, and enrollment requirements
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- Our affordable tuition payment plan options.
- How online education works.
- How a degree in API Program Name can help you reach your goals.
Professional certification
Our program prepares you for Pharmacy Technician certification through the National Healthcareer Association's (NHA's) ExCPT Pharmacy Technician certification exam and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's (PTCB's) Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)†.
What you get
- Sponsorship for proctored NHA ExCPT Pharmacy Technician certification exam, or
- Sponsorship for proctored PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam
- Pharmacy Management Software for the Pharmacy Technician: A Worktext
- Student Portal dashboard for instant access to lessons and support
- Learning Resource Center online libraries and labs
- ProQuest® digital access to thousands of sources for research
- An active online community of fellow students, staff, and grads
- Access to PioneerRx, the nation’s top pharmacy management system††
Pharmacy Technician externship program
Our students stand out from other graduates thanks to our partnership with Walgreens and CVS/Pharmacy nationwide. With us, you'll receive the opportunity to complete your pharmacy technician externship††† and receive hands-on pharmacy technician training. There's also the option for you to arrange an externship experience at a local pharmacy.
growth rate
Job opportunities
As the population continues to age and new medications are introduced, the U.S. Department of Labor projects pharmacy technician careers to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032††††.
Learn aseptic operations, transcriptions, apothecary conversions, drug dispensation, recordkeeping and more.
Professional certification may help you obtain work, improve pay, and advance professionally.
Fit your studies around your life as you progress at your own pace and make your education work for you.
Program instructors
Our faculty has extensive professional experience in their fields. They’re here to help you learn, grow and excel. VIEW ALL FACULTY MEMBERS
Frequently asked questions
Whether you’re new to online education or have taken an online course before, you may still have some questions about how Ashworth College works. Here’s what you need to know.
The general job responsibilities of a pharmacy technician include counting and measuring doses of prescribed medications, packaging and labeling medications, maintaining patient records, and compounding medications. To learn more about the daily responsibilities of a pharmacy tech check out our blog, What is a pharmacy technician?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2022 a certified pharmacy technician makes a median salary of $37,790. A pharmacy technician’s salary will vary based on the company and industry that they work in, as well as whether or not they’re certified.
Ashworth College’s online Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma allows you to prepare for the career you want on your terms. Our pharm tech courses are designed to prepare you to take the first steps toward a job as a pharmacy technician through career-focused classes that cover essential skills like pharmacology and compounding. Besides helping you build foundational skills, the pharmacy tech training also prepares you to sit for two industry-recognized certification exams, the ExCPT and the PTCE. Additionally, you can build on-the-job experience through an externship with our partners, Walgreens and CVS/Pharmacy.
All graduates keep access to their accounts on the Ashworth College Central Network, an online toolkit that provides step-by-step guidance through resume templates, cover letters, thank you letters, and more. As a student, you will interact with the Ashworth College Central Network throughout your lessons to make you comfortable with the tools and prepare you to make a good impression on potential employers once you've graduated!
Our courses are entirely self-paced, meaning you can complete your pharmacy technician classes on your schedule. While many students can complete the program in a shorter timeframe, we allow you up to one year to complete your course.
Related programs
In addition to our Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma, we offer a range of flexible online healthcare programs to help you begin or advance your career in healthcare. Some of these programs include:
Need an ASHP/ACPE Accredited Pharm Tech Program?
Ashworth College is part of the Penn Foster Network. Whether you’re looking to start your own business, advance your career, or retrain in a new field, our partner schools can help you prepare for the next step in your journey.
More and more state Boards of Pharmacy and employers require or strongly encourage pharmacy technicians to complete an ASHP/ACPE accredited program in order to qualify for employment. Penn Foster’s Pharmacy Technician Professional Program is accredited by the ASHP/ACPE.
Pharmacy technician externship requirements
To meet the requirements for graduation for your Pharmacy Technician program, you must complete 160 hours of an externship under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Ashworth College has established relationships with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies nationwide to provide potential opportunities to complete this externship for many of our students. Students who do not have reasonable access to a Walgreens or CVS facility, or students who may already be employed at a pharmacy other than Walgreens or CVS, may choose to arrange their own externship.
Program completion requirement
A student of the Pharmacy Technician program must attain the age of 18 years and have a High School diploma or its equivalent prior to graduation.
State requirements
A career in this field may require you to meet certain licensing, training, and other requirements that can vary by vocation and state. You should check with your state, local government, and/or licensing board to find out which requirements may be applicable in your state. Click here for contact information on state licensing/regulatory boards and certain professional licensing information.
Ashworth College has determined that the curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: Alabama, District of Columbia, Illinois, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Ashworth College is unable to determine whether the curriculum meets the educational requirements or certification in: Northern Mariana Islands, and US Virgin Islands.