Pharmacy Technician Programs in Los Angeles County, California
The state of California is home to 38,220 pharmacy technicians (1).
Although these professionals live in every city across the state of California, the largest populations are found in the Los Angeles, followed by Long Beach and Anaheim respectively.
There is a total of 13,770 employed pharmacy technicians combined working in these cities (2).
LA County offers many lucrative career opportunities within the pharmaceutical sector and enjoys some of the highest salaries for pharmacy technician professionals. Los Angeles-based Pharmacy Technicians averaged $46,760 per year or $22.48 per hour (3).
With opportunities comes also competition and this is especially true at some of the top hospitals and retail pharmacies that employ pharmacy techs such as Cedars – Sinai, UCLA Health, Good Samaritan Hospital of Los Angeles, Walgreens and CVS Pharmacies.
One way to up on the competition is to get the right education and training.
To become a pharmacy technician, you must complete course work leading to certification as a Pharmacy Technician. This is the preferred choice of pharmacy technicians that employers in California seek.
Becoming a graduate of an accredited Pharmacy technical school is your key to gaining employment. Most popular program is an Associate’s Degree (2-year course).
This will ensure that you are well prepared to demonstrate and perform duties relevant to a pharmacy technician and will lead to attaining the PTCB certification and the California Pharmacy Technician License employers are seeking.
Your position as a Pharmacy Technician will involve providing medication services, compounding, labeling medication, filling inventory and restocking medication and operating a cash register. You are required to have a knowledge of drug names, pharmacy, math and sterile techniques and be able to operate a computer.
The following is a list of pharmacy technician schools in Los Angeles County that offer some of the best Pharmacy Technology programs in California.
Featured Pharmacy Technician Schools in Los Angeles
Pharmacy Technician Programs Los Angeles
Los Angeles City College
Address: 855 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles,CA 90029
Phone: ( 323) 953 4000
Website: LACC
What You'll Learn:
LACC's Pharmacy Technician program, includes classroom curriculum, pharmacy externship, CA license application, national certification examination, costs of attendance, payment options, class schedule and more!
This is a 23-week course with an average class size of 12. There is 182 hours of classroom instruction with a 160-hour pharmacy externship.
Their fall program is held during the evenings of Mon & Wed from 6:00pm - 10:00pm. Their summer & winter program is held weekly on Saturday's from 9:30 am- 6:00pm. Tuition is $1,799 and a payment plan is available.
The required textbooks for this course work include: Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician: Principles and Practice, 4rd Edition, ISBN: 9781455751785 and Math Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians, ISBN: 9781437723663.
Pre-requisites are: proof of a High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent and background check is only required at the time you apply for the licensing exam.
Undergraduate Certificate in Pharmacy Technician / Diploma
American Career College
Address: Los Angeles Campus 4021 Rosewood Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone: (323) 668-7555
Website: American Career College
What You'll Learn:
This 9-month course will prepare students for entry-level jobs as pharmacy technicians in both in-patient and outpatient settings, meets the licensure requirements in California and helps with preparation to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam.
Cost of tuition is $18,350 and excludes books and other supplies.
Financial aid is also provided for qualifying students through various grants, scholarships and loans. This program is ASHP accredited.
Undergraduate Certificate in Pharmacy Technician/Assistant
CBD College
Address: 3699 Wilshire Blvd, 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: (213) 427-2200
Website: CBD College
What You'll Learn:
This 36-weeks diploma program trains students using a combination of state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms, and externships for entry level jobs as pharmacy technician. In addition graduates can then apply for licensure with the State of California and prepared to take the PTCB certification.
Class sizes are small.
Tuition fees are $12,001 excluding books and supplies. The college offers financial aid to qualifying individuals and job-placement is also provided. Day or evening classes are available. This program is nationally accredited by ABHES.
Pharmacy Technician Program
Cal State LA Downtown
Address : Cal State LA Downtown 801 S. Grand Ave., 6th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: (323) 343-4900
Website: Cal State LA Downtown
What You'll Learn:
Offered at Cal State LA Downtown, the Pharmacy Technician Program is a comprehensive 10-week course or 50 hours.
Upon completion, students can apply for retail, hospital, clinic and other pharmacy settings jobs.
Students will also explore PTCB certification. The program costs $1299 excluding the required textbooks. The required textbook is The Pharmacy Technician, Sixth Edition (ISBN: 1617314870).
If you're unemployed or having financial difficulties, enquire with the college about financial assistance.
Finally students are encouraged to take the PTCE exam and then apply for their pharmacy technician license with the California State Board of Pharmacy.
Pharmacy Technician (77-90-60)
Evans Community Adult School
Address: 717 N. Figueroa St. Room 332 Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 613-7900
Website: Evans CAS
What You'll Learn:
This one-semester competency-based pharmacy technician course is designed to prepare students for employment in a pharmacy setting and to sit for the PTCB national certification exam. The course has both theory and clinical preparation (externships). Classes are held on Mon - Fri from 08:00 AM - 03:00 PM. At the successful completion of this course, students will be qualified to register with the California State Board of Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician essential to seeking employment. Students can choose to sit the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Exam even before the course is completed. It is not uncommon to gain employment right after completion of the course with the same employer the exernship was carried out. The approximate total cost of the program is $1375. The pre-requisites are: a High School Diploma or GED/HiSET, reading level 9.0, math level 8.0 and be 18 years of age.
Pharmacy Technician (77-90-60)
East Los Angeles Occupation Center
Address: Main Office 100 Marengo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Phone: (323) 276-7000
Website: East Los Angeles Occupation Center
What You'll Learn:
This competency-based Pharmacy Technician course is 540 hours held over 1 semester. At the end of the course, students are prepared to enter the workforce.
The coursework combines both classes and on the job training. Students can apply for licensure on completion and sit the PTCE exam for the CPhT designation.
Tuition is $650 and classes are held from Mon - Fri from 08:00 AM - 03:00 PM. The pre-requisites are: be 18 years of age. Reading level at least 9.0 and Math 9.0 (TABE). Current CA Identification Card, CA Driver's License, or a current US Passport.
High School Diploma, original score sheet for the U.S. GED/HiSET or documentation of completion of the 12th Grade in a foreign educational system (independent NACES agency approved by LAUSD). AHA or BLS Health Care Providers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Finally individuals must pass background check and a physical exam and a drug test. Financial Assistance for select programs may be available to students who qualify through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act via agency partners with LAUSD and ELAOC.
Pharmacy Technician (77-90-60)
Maxine Waters Employment Prep Center
Address: 10925 S. Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90059
Phone: (323)357-7700
Website: Maxine Water Employment Preparation Center
What You'll Learn:
This competency-based course is designed to prepare students for employment in a pharmaceutical setting. In addition students will learn theory and clinical procedures practiced in classroom and clinical site.
The cost of this program is $1115, students will also also incurr costs to cover State license and PTCB certification. Classes are held during week days from Mon - Fri and from 08:00 am - 02:45 pm.
To enroll in the program you must be 18 years old, have a HS diploma or equivalent, a pass reading placement exam at 6.0 or higher, a pass math placement exam at 6.0 or higher, physical exam clearance and a background check and drug test required before
externship clinical rotation.
Pharmacy Technician Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Los Angeles ORT College
Phone: (323) 966-5444
Website: Los Angeles Ort College
What You'll Learn:
Students enrolled in Los Angeles Ort College' pharmacy technician degree program learn about pharmaceuticals, pharmacy terminology, insurance billing, payment collection, dosage calculations, pharmacy ethics and the fundamentals of mixing and packing prescriptions.
The course includes preparation for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) licensing examination, which is an optional certification. This is a 65 semester credit hour program with 1200 classroom hours and is offered in the morning, afternoon or evenings.
This course prepares students to apply for State licensure upon completion. An interview is required prior to admission and pass the score on the LA ORT entrance exam.
Tuition fees are $18,059 plus $1,054 for textbooks and supplies. The college offers tuition financing plans, financial aid and scholarship programs for eligible students.