A 248-hour PTCB-recognized live online program — 63 hours live instructor-led, 65 hours self-paced, and 120 hours of hands-on training, ending with a 3-week externship inside an actual pharmacy.
Live sessions meet twice weekly in the evenings — 7:00–10:00 PM ET / 6:00–9:00 PM CT / 5:00–8:00 PM MT / 4:00–7:00 PM PT.
Enrollment requests submitted less than one week before a cohort launch are subject to approval. Advertised dates do not reflect available slots in a cohort. Instructor: Deirdre McClain.
This PTCB-recognized program prepares students to become professional Pharmacy Technicians dedicated to assisting Registered Pharmacists in quality pharmacy operations. Graduates are equipped to fill prescriptions according to a doctor's orders, participate in ordering and inventory control, and handle billing and payments.
The program totals 248 hours: 63 hours of live online, instructor-led sessions, 65 hours of self-paced online coursework, and 120 hours of hands-on training. Graduates who pass the course are eligible to sit for the national PTCB CPhT certification exam.
Once students pass the course and the certification exam, they can apply to participate in a 3-week externship with national affiliation partners like CVS, Walgreens, and Target — or local pharmacies near their residence. The externship is what most employers in this industry look for to know a student is job-ready.
By the end of the program, you will be able to:
21 instructor-led lessons aligned to the PTCB CPhT body of knowledge, plus a Midterm and Final Exam.
Foundational knowledge of the pharmacy profession, the development of the pharmacy technician role over time, and key advances in drug therapy.
Understand how federal and state legislation shapes pharmacy operations, the difference between morals and ethics, and the regulatory agencies governing pharmacy practice.
Compare community and institutional pharmacies with an emphasis on operations and workflow. Build foundational knowledge of generic drug naming, drug classifications, the ISMP confused drug names list, and drug schedules.
Major components of the nervous system, the medications used to treat nervous system disorders, and the special labeling requirements when dispensing.
Major components of the endocrine and musculoskeletal systems, medications used in treatment, and the special labeling required when dispensing.
Cardiovascular anatomy, medications used to treat cardiovascular disorders, and dispensing requirements.
Major components of the respiratory and GI systems, medications used in treatment, and the special labels used when dispensing.
Major components of the renal and reproductive systems, the medications used to treat their disorders, and the special labels used when dispensing.
Major components of the immune system, medications used to treat related disorders, and the special labels used when dispensing.
Major components of the dermatologic and hematologic systems, the medications used to treat disorders, and dispensing requirements.
Important considerations related to OTC medications, the differences in regulations governing them, and restricted OTC products.
Comprehensive midterm exam covering Lessons 1–11, including pharmacy law, drug classifications, and therapeutic agents across the body systems studied to date.
Deepen your understanding of the competencies needed to succeed as a pharmacy technician — including in inpatient, outpatient, and closed-door pharmacies — and develop strong patient-facing communication skills.
Forms and administration of drugs along with drug formulations — including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and bioavailability.
Learn pharmacy conversions and calculations used to determine medication dosages, calculate infusion rates and drips, and perform compounding math.
Apply pharmacy calculations to oral and intravenous medication dosing scenarios, including infusion rates and drip calculations.
Business math used in pharmacy operations, including pricing, markup, discount, inventory turnover, and profit calculations.
Key references used in pharmacy and the considerations for selecting the best reference material — including electronic sources — plus the workflow of community pharmacy practice.
Responsibilities of pharmacy technicians in institutional settings, with attention to regulatory agencies, specialized tasks, and advanced technician roles.
Special considerations used in bulk packaging and nonsterile compounding — including ingredient determination, beyond-use dating, and storage methods.
Why some medications must be sterile, calculations used in compounding, USP <797> guidelines, and the equipment used in sterile compounding.
The importance of pharmacy billing and inventory management — including third-party billing, claims processing, prior authorizations, and medication error prevention.
Comprehensive final exam covering all 21 lessons. A final average of 70% is required to earn the Certificate of Completion.
This course prepares students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification exam — the national credential recognized by employers across the United States.
To begin the 3-week externship, students must:
State regulations for pharmacy technicians vary, and this course does not specifically prepare students to meet every state's regulations. Potential students are highly encouraged to research the requirements in the state where they intend to work.
Grading: Students must complete the course with a final average grade of 70% to be eligible for a Certificate of Completion. Attendance: If attendance drops below 80% during the program, students will be given the opportunity to roll into the next scheduled cohort.
Course outlines are subject to change at any time without prior notice.
Reserve your seat in the next live cohort and get the live instruction, hands-on training, PTCB exam prep, and externship pipeline you need to get hired at CVS, Walgreens, or Target.