Online Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Training Program with Onsite Externship
Get pharmacy technician training and certification prep mostly online with an onsite externship.
Earn your Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Associate Degree through our mostly online program in 18 months.12
Take the first step on your journey toward earning an associate degree at Ultimate Medical Academy and receive an education to pursue work as a pharmacy technician.3 At UMA, you’ll receive online pharmacy technician training for pursuing entry-level roles in the field and preparation to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) if you meet eligibility requirements. This is all included in a curriculum with flexible study coursework designed to benefit your school-life balance.5 We even include 180 hours of on-site externship training at the end of the program.
If you enjoy working closely with people and have a sharp eye for detail, you might fit the script for a career as a pharmacy technician.
What is a pharmacy technician?
Pharmacy technicians dispense prescription medications, work with pharmacy customers, and organize inventory, among other duties. Individuals in this role are under the supervision of a pharmacist, who is responsible for reviewing all medications filled before they are dispensed.
Classes start Monday, Oct 23, 2023
Let’s talk about it.
You have questions. We have answers.
Complete this form and we’ll email you info on how to get started at UMA, financial aid if qualified, selecting a program, and more. We’ll also give you a call to ensure your questions are answered so you can decide which program is right for you.
By clicking the Request Info button, you agree to be contacted by phone, text message, or email via automated systems by Ultimate Medical Academy about your education at the email addresses and phone numbers you provided above, including any wireless number(s). You are not obligated to agree to automated contact to enroll; instead, you may call us at 888-205-2510. Note that even non-automated calls are recorded for quality assurance.
Pharmacy Technician Career Education
When you enroll as an online student in UMA’s Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician program, you’ll be able to study on a flexible schedule, learning both the theoretical and practical skills necessary to pursue entry-level roles in the field.5 You will also become familiar with soft skills such as communicating with customers, critical thinking, and problem solving. This is all in addition to 180 hours of in-person pharmacy tech externship training that provides you with relevant experience before you begin your job search.
Course Curriculum
UMA’s mostly online Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician program offers courses that cover medical terminology, dosage calculation, insurance claims preparation, and other essential topics as well as training in soft skills that can help you stand out to employers.
Please see the UMA Catalog for required courses in Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas.
Associate Degree
Credits: 61.5 Approx. time to complete: 18 months4
Core Courses (37.5 Credits)
- Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals & Computer Applications 5.5 credits
- Pharmacology and Sterile Products & HIV/AIDS 5.0 credits
- Anatomy & Physiology and Pathophysiology I 6.0 credits
- Pharmaceutical Calculations and Pathophysiology II 6.0 credits
- Drug/Dosage Interaction and Pharmacy Law & Ethics 6.0 credits
- Community & Institutional Pharmacy 3.0 credits
- Certification Review 2.0 credits
- Pharmacy Technician Externship 4.0 credits
General Education Courses (15.0 Credits)
- English Composition 3.0 credits
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 3.0 credits
- College Math 3.0 credits
- General Biology 3.0 credits
- Sociology 3.0 credits
Elective Courses (9.0 Credits)
- Accounting for Managers 3.0 credits
- Introduction to Healthcare Computer Information Systems 3.0 credits
- Interpersonal Professional Communications 3.0 credits
- Local, National & International Events 3.0 credits
- Psychology 3.0 credits
- Working with People 3.0 credits
- Patient Relations 3.0 credits
- Ecology 3.0 credits
- Diversity in the Workplace 3.0 credits
This program also includes a certification review as well as an in-person externship.
Work environments
Professionals in this field work in settings such as:
- Pharmacies
- Hospitals
- General merchandise stores
Why Choose UMA?
When you pursue an Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician associate degree from Ultimate Medical Academy:
- You’ll gain a strong foundation for pursuing your new career.
- You’ll have UMA staff dedicated to your success.
- You’ll have a career services team committed to getting you interview-ready so you can jumpstart your search for a career.
- You’ll receive flexible study time with mostly online training.5
At UMA, you won’t feel like just another number. In fact, you’ll participate in classrooms with a maximum size of 25 students. Our student support teams can help you with academic support, technical assistance, job search guidance, mock interviews, financial aid if qualified, and more.
Our programs also include 24/7 tech support that helps you become comfortable with computers and in the UMA online environment. Receive guidance from your instructors and learn what it takes to pursue your career.
An associate degree can open doors to lifelong learning and set the groundwork for your newfound passion and career path. Let UMA help you change your future. We are proud to have supported more than 80,000 students through graduation so far. We’d love to help you, too!
Your associate degree doesn’t need to be the end of your education; UMA maintains agreements with various educational partners who share our values and our missions. Through these partnerships, alumni with an associate degree from UMA who meet a partner’s admissions requirements have an opportunity to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in select areas of study.13 Find more information on UMA’s partner schools.
What kind of financial aid options are available?
If you qualify for applicable financial aid, we’ll walk you through the process. Multiple resources may be available to help pay for the cost of your education. Our Student Finance advisors are committed to helping you understand the options you qualify for and can assist you in applying for various forms of financial aid to see if you qualify.
To learn more about financial aid possibilities, contact a Student Finance advisor at 888-212-5421.
Not sure which program to choose?
Try our fun and informational healthcare careers quiz for inspiration. Just answer a few simple personality questions and learn which program may best suit you!
FAQs
How do I become a pharmacy technician?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, generally speaking, pharmacy technicians need only a high school diploma or its equivalent. However, many states and employers also require you to take classes and/or pass a certification exam to work in this field, in addition to passing a background check. Completing a pharmacy technician program — like the one offered at UMA — can help students stand out among those who only finished high school.
What’s it like to take courses online?
Apart from the on-site externship, the thing about online courses is that they enable you to fit your coursework into a flexible study schedule!5
Will I need to get certified?
The answer to this question varies, in part, based on the state/employer where you plan to work. Each state state has its own pharmacy regulations and some employers may require certification. To better understand the requirements in your state, you must check with your designated Board of Pharmacy. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy offers an online list, which may be a good place to start. If you have a specific potential employer in mind, you may want to research that employer’s minimum requirements for pharmacy technicians.
How do I get to be a certified pharmacy technician?
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers a Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. This is an 80-question multiple-choice test, with an additional 10 unscored questions. It takes approximately two hours to complete. Our program is designed to prepare students for this exam while they pursue their associate degree.14
What’s the best school for my needs?
Only you can determine which pharmacy technician school will best fit your needs. Factors to consider include whether it can help you achieve your career goals, how much money you want to spend on a training program, and whether the school will help you after graduation when you’re attempting to find a job. Our staff is here to answer any questions you may have when determining if UMA is the best school for you.
What should I look for in top schools?
When considering what pharmacy tech program is right for you, many students begin by searching “pharmacy technician programs near me.” However, thanks to predominantly online pharmacy tech programs, this no longer needs to be the case, as only the externship portion of the program is onsite. When researching pharmacy technician programs, it’s helpful to look at all of the “extras” these programs offer above and beyond a degree. For instance, UMA graduates have access to 24/7 tech support while taking classes and our Career Services team works with you to brush up on your resume and interview skills so you can pursue your new role with confidence. UMA’s Learner Services team also assists students with certain obstacles that might stand in the way of earning their education.
How long does it take to become a certified pharmacy technician?
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) requires individuals to complete a PTCB-recognized training program or have an equivalent level of work experience to take the certification exam. Therefore, if you complete UMA’s Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician program, for instance, the training program takes approximately 18 months to complete.1 Then you would need to take the exam, the timing of which may vary depending on when the exam is next offered.4
Can you become a pharmacy tech without going to school?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, generally speaking, pharmacy technicians need only a high school diploma or its equivalent to work in this position. However, many states also regulate this field, so completing a training program and/or passing an exam may be required as well. Employers may also require certification and/or formal training.
Is the pharmacy tech certification exam hard?
In total, the pharmacy technician certification exam takes approximately two hours to complete. Additionally, while you can prepare for your pharmacy technician certification mostly online, the test must be taken in person. UMA’s program includes preparation for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). In addition to completing the training program, graduates must meet other eligibility requirements for this exam.4
Is UMA Accredited?
Ultimate Medical Academy is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES.org), a national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Though UMA is not your traditional 4-year university or local community college, we offer online diplomas and degrees in 11 healthcare programs, some of which offer on-site externships and certification preparation — all intended to put you in a position to pursue a healthcare career after graduation.
How much does it cost to become a certified pharmacy technician?
The answer to this question depends partially on which school you attend. Financial aid to complete the training program may be available to those who qualify. Additionally, to earn your certification through the PTCB would currently cost $129, but you should check their website first to ensure that this price hasn’t changed.