Pharmacy Technician Programs in Everett, WA

Pharmacy Tech is an exciting - and increasingly lucrative - way to enter the medical field without the need for many years of schooling. That does not mean that the work pharmacy techs do is not complex or vital though, it is, especially as an aging population increases the demand for prescription drugs.

In the State of Washington, including in the city of Everett, WA, to work as a pharmacy tech you'll need a proper certification and the Washington State license that comes along with it. While the exam to obtain this certification can be taken by anyone you will need the knowledge, expertise and practical skills to pass it. Which is where pharmacy tech programs come in.

Featured Rx Tech Schools in Everett

Statistics

Everett vs Washington Pharmacy Technicians Employment

As the county seat of Snobbish County, Washington, and the largest city in the county, Everett, WA is a lively place that plays host to all kinds of industries, especially in the aeronautical and retail industries.

Located 26 miles outside the city of Seattle, Everett is hometown to a wide variety of notables, including political commentator Glenn Beck, actor Patrick Duffy and musical legend Kenny Loggins.

There are currently 6950 certified Pharmacy Technicians working in the State of Washington, and of those 3740 work in the Everett, WA area. Some are employed in the city of Everett directly while others make the trip to Seattle to work. They are employed across a number of settings in retail establishments, hospitals and private medical facilities.

Salary Percentiles for Pharmacy Technicians in Everett

In 2018 the average annual salary earned by an Everett, WA certified pharmacy technician was $43,330. 

This breaks down to an average hourly wage of $20.82. Within this salary range the lowest wages in the area are $15.67 per hour but can rise as high as $27.63, or an annual salary of $57,480.

Pharmacy Technician Schools in Everett, WA

There are three schools that currently offer Pharmacy Technician programs within 25 miles of Everett, WA and while both offer students a great introduction to the profession of Pharmacy Technician and the knowledge needed to pass the exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician they are rather different, and one may be better suited to your needs than the other.

With this in mind, here is a comparative look at what these schools have to offer to help you decide which of them might be right for you.

1. Pima Medical Institute - Seattle Campus

Pima Medical Institute is a private technical and vocational college that maintains campuses across the US, including two in the State of Washington, in Renton and Seattle. They offer their Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program at both campuses but it's the Seattle campus that is most conveniently located for those living in Everett, WA.

Pima Medical Institute Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program

Estimated Cost

The cost of tuition for the Pima Institute Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program is $14,106. Students will encounter additional expenses for books and supplies and there are fees for background testing and other incidentals to take into account. These will add approximately $1,000 to the costs of attendance.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify and there are a limited number of state grants available that may be applicable to some students as well. Pima does offer a payment plan to spread out the cost of tuition.

Admissions Requirements

Students are required to meet certain minimum requirements to be admitted to the Pharmacy Tech Program. These include all the following:

• Be 18 years old or older, although some students aged 16-18 may be accepted with formal parental permission and support.
• Students must be able to pass a basic admission test, including scoring 60% or better on the math portion of the testing.
• Prove legal status and present a Government Issued ID.
• Pass a background check. Drug testing may be required by employers during a student's externship and it is almost certain that you will have to meet mandatory immunization standards as well.

Timeframes

As it is not a traditional college Pima offer admittance to their Pharmacy Tech Program all year round. Classes are offered both in the day and at night, something that is excellent for working professionals who may find attending classes in the day difficult or even impossible.

In addition to their classroom work, which for day students takes approximately 35 weeks to complete and 40 for evening students, those enrolled in the Pharmacy Tech program will be required to complete a 250-hour externship to provide them with the practical experience required to become a certified Pharmacy Technician in Washington State.

Accreditation

The Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program offered by Pima Medical Institute is authorized and approved by the Washington Student Achievement Council. While it is also a program that meets the requirements established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act not all the credits earned may be fully transferable to another school or college.

Students are advised that if they are considering taking their Pharmacy Tech education further after they obtain certification - to an Associate's Degree level for example - they should check with any schools that they would consider attending to determine whether they accept credits from Pima or not.

The program offered at Pima is also approved by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and students are able to sit the PTCB certification exam at the end of the course meeting all the educational requirements needed to take the test.

The faculty teaching the Pharmacy Technician Program are all experienced, licensed pharmacists as well as teachers, and as some are still actively working in the field they help ensure that the program curriculum remains as up to date and relevant as possible.

2. North Seattle College

North Seattle College is a well established community college located in the Northgate District of the city of Seattle. The campus is conveniently located to public transportation and major highways, so the commute for students from Everett, WA is a relatively straightforward and easy one.

Like many community colleges in the US North Seattle was founded in the 1970s to provide a high quality but affordable education to a diverse student body. The student body at the school is indeed very diverse, with students not only coming from out of state but also from other countries.

North Seattle students can enjoy a more traditional college experience as there are many campus activities, clubs and organizations they can join and student housing is available to students who wish to live on campus.

College Academics​

A wide range of subjects are on offer at North Seattle College and the school offers both certificate programs and Associates Degrees. Pharmacy Technician Programs are offered at Associate's Degree level at the school to students who have successfully completed the Certificate Program and have obtained their formal certification as a licensed Washington State Pharmacy Tech.

North Seattle College Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program

Estimated Cost

As a traditional state community college tuition for the Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program is charged at a per credit hour rate and that rate varies according to a student's residence and status and the number of credits they are intending to complete.

On average however, an Everett, WA resident can expect to pay around $4,500 in basic tuition costs, with an additional $800-$1,000 for books and supplies. Federal and state financial aid is available to students who qualify as are a number of state grants.

Admission Requirement

Although it is a formal community college North Seattle College states that it strives to attach minimal educational requirements to enter their Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program to give as many students as possible who have an interest to enter what is a very hands on and practical field.

The requirements students must be able to meet to enter the program include all the following:

• Have formally graduated from high school or have earned a GED.
• Be able to present a Government issued ID and proof of their eligibility to be in the US legally.
• Have completed and passed a number of prerequisite college level courses, specifically MATH097 Elementary Algebra or equivalent and ENGL097/ENGL098 College Preparatory Reading & Writing with final placement into English Composition (ENGL&101). If they have not done this students are given the chance to complete equivalent COMPASS exams to meet those requirements.
• Pass a background check administered by a third party company of the college's choice. Students are responsible for the cost of this check.
  Although they are not mandated for admission to the program students will eventually have to meet drug testing and vaccination requirements when they are placed in an externship, so this is something students should understand they will be required to do in order to graduate from the program.
• Meet some minimal fitness requirements. These include the ability to lift 25lbs, vision and hearing that is, or can be corrected to, an acceptable level and the willingness to formally assert that, when working in their externship they will provide the same level of service to everyone, regardless of race, sex, ethnic background or sexual or gender preference.
• Demonstrate that they can type at a rate of 40-45 WPM and that they have a basic level of computer proficiency, as making use of software is an important part of a pharmacy tech's job.

Accreditation

The Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program offered at North Seattle College is accredited and licensed by the Washington State Board of Pharmacy and ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) . It is also approved by the PTCB, which is the body that administers the Pharmacy Tech licensing exam students must pass to become a Certified Pharmacy Tech.

For those students who later choose to further their education in the field, even perhaps beyond the Associates Degree offered at the school to a BA program all credits earned as a part of the Certificate program are fully transferable college has an official agreement with the University of Washington, which is located nearby, that allows students to transfer there to pursue further education easier.

Timeframes

The Certificate course can be completed in approximately 9 months, or the equivalent of one standard school year. Admissions are made in the Fall and Spring semesters in line with the admissions schedule the college follows in general.

As one of the most complete and comprehensive programs available to Everett, WA residents interested in becoming a certified Pharmacy Technician the North Seattle Certificate Program offers the chance to obtain all the knowledge and hands on practical experience students need not only to pass their Certification test but to work effectively in their chosen field in general.

According to the school's website 99% of the students that complete the Certificate program pass the PTCB certification exam on their first attempt and that all of those students go on to obtain employment in their chosen field. Often they are actually employed with the company they complete a 432 hour externship with, something that is a requirement for graduation from the program. These externships are arranged by the school and see students placed in retail and hospital pharmacy environments.

When students are completing their externship their classes are scheduled to allow them to do so, with evening and early morning classes available.

3. Edmonds Community College

Edmonds College is a Community college located in Lynnwood, WA , a short commute for most Everett, WA residents. The school is one of a number of community colleges in the area that enjoys a great reputation for providing students with a high quality education at Certificate or Associates Degree level at a cost that is more affordable than traditional four year colleges.

The school offers dozens of programs, and these include a Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program that is designed to give students the academic knowledge and the practical hands on experience needed to pass the Pharmacy Tech certification exam and gain their designation as a licensed Washington State Pharmacy Tech.

Edmonds Community College Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program Details

Estimated Cost

Edmonds College has wider educational requirements than many other similar pharmacy tech programs. In order to apply to enroll in the program itself students must complete several prerequsite courses (see below for more details). The cost of these is, for in state residents, $1,515.36, with an additional $1,000 in estimated costs for supplies.

The Pharmacy Tech Program proper costs $4,221.36, exclusive of books, supplies and lab fees. In total, according to the school's website the total tuition cost for the program is $7,502.85 when all additional fees are factored in.

Students can obtain both Federal and State Financial aid if they qualify and some may also be eligible to receive a Washington State Grant.

Admission Requirements

Pharmacy Tech Program students must take, and pass, the following prerequisite classes at Edmonds College before they are admitted to the Pharmacy Tech Certificate program.

AHE110 Human Body
AHE 116 Intro to Health Care
BSTEC 104 Basic Medical Terminology
AHE 115 Basic Life Support/CPR 1
SHS 170 HIV/AIDS

To obtain admission to take these classes students must go through a standard US state college admissions process.

Before beginning the Pharmacy Tech Certificate portion of their studies students will be required to pay for and pass a background check and submit to drug testing. These are requirements that all candidates have to meet to both sit their certification exam and to obtain licensing after passing from Washington State, so by ensuring that students can meet these requirements from the start Edmonds College helps make sure no one is taking the program who will then not be able to obtain licensing and certification.

Accreditation

The Edmonds College Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program is accredited and approved by the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) and the Washington State Board of Pharmacy.

Timeframes

Ideally students will be able to complete the Pharmacy Tech program within one school year. Admissions to the program are made in the Fall Semester and students can expect to graduate at the end of the Spring Semester. The curriculum includes both classroom based education and a school arranged 252-hour externship that is arranged with a local employer in either a retail or a pharmacy setting.

Before graduation students will apply for, and sit their PTCB certification exam.

Final Note

If you are still not sure that becoming a Pharmacy Tech is right for there is a short online course offered by the nearby Everett College that can help you find out.

The $119 online course offers a professional insight into many of the basic terms and duties a pharmacy technician undertakes and offers a broad overview of the profession.

The course will not give you the knowledge needed to pass the PTCB certification exam, but rather is a way to get a real taste of what a career as a Pharmacy Technician truly entails, which should help you decide if going to school for it is the right next move for you.