Pharmacy Technician Programs in Lexington, KY
Pharmacy technicians play a huge role in the smooth running of a pharmacy, both in clinical and retail settings. Essentially, they serve as a pharmacist's assistant, helping with everything from checking insurance coverages to counting medications. They are also often the face that patients see most when they pick up their medications.
This all makes for a challenging but rewarding career that is also comparatively well paid.
For those there interested in this lucrative industry pharmacy technician schools in Lexington not only provide the knowledge they need to obtain a position as an entry level tech but may also help advance their career prospects and salary.
Featured Pharmacy Technician Programs in Kentucky
Pharmacy Technician Salaries and Job Growth Outlook in Lexington, KY
Pharmacy tech job growth in Lexington will increase by as much as 10% by 2028 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Before embarking on any new career path and schooling, you should always have an idea of just what the job will pay and what the prospects for employment and job growth are.
In the case of pharmacy technicians in Lexington, KY according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020 the average tech commanded a salary of around $31,780 annually, which translates to around $15.28 an hour.
This is slightly less than the national average for the profession - $33,950 - but still a good figure for the area.
In Lexington-Fayette pharmacy technicians on average earn $31,780, in Kentucky average salaries are $29,370 and across the United States PT's earn an average $33,950.
Entry level techs will start out with a lower salary - around $24,120 or less per year - but experienced techs, or those with a higher level of formal education and experience may, when they hit the top 10% of earners, make as much as $43,330 or more (around $21 per hour, although few employers pay that way) .
Entry, Average and High Level Earnings for Pharmacy Technicians (Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
In terms of job growth, the pharmacy technician field is growing in general, as pharmacies play a larger role in the healthcare process, thanks to onsite healthcare facilities and testing and vaccination offerings. It is projected by experts that employment in the Lexington, KY area will increase by as much as 8% by 2028, but that figure may rise as large retail employers continue to add staff.
Kentucky Employment Trends for Pharmacy Technicians
Employment (2018): | 8,430 employees |
Projected employment (2028) | 9,070 employees |
Projected growth (2018-2028) | 8% |
Projected job openings (2018-2028): | 770 |
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Lexington, KY
The State of Kentucky's Board of Pharmacy requires that pharmacy technicians formally register with them, but, unlike some other states does not require that they be licensed or certified. Many employers however prefer that pharmacy technicians they hire have passed either the PTCE certification exam or the newer ExCPT. Which is where pharmacy schools in Lexington, KY come in.
The oldest, and most taken pharmacy technician certification, the PTCE, is offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. As of 2020 they require that to take the test candidates must graduate from an PTCB approved training program. There are a number of these in and around Lexington, KY and each offers something slightly different, as we are going to take a look at now.
1. Bluegrass Community & Technical College
470 Cooper Drive, Lexington KY 40506 | 
859-246-6330
A traditional community college, Bluegrass Community & Technical College offers students of all ages access to affordable education at both the certificate and associate degree levels. For future pharmacy technicians the school offers both a basic and an advanced Certificate in Pharmacy Technology.
While the advanced program is a competitive selective admission program open only to students who have achieved a higher level of education, the basic Certificate in Pharmacy Technology offers students access to the knowledge and practical training they need to pass the PTCE, and perhaps, in the future, take the advanced program.
To be accepted to this program students must be over the age of 18, hold a high school diploma or GED and meet minimum English and Math standards as set by the school. Students must also agree to a background check, drug screening and immunization before they can be admitted to the program.
The basic Pharmacy Technician program at Bluegrass is a campus based 24 credit program that can be completed in around 9 months. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis, with that cost varying according to a student's personal circumstances and residency. Most students make use of traditional financial aid to cover these costs and may also be able to take advantage of several Kentucky Workforce grants if they qualify.
2. Sullivan University
2355 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, KY 40504 | (859) 276.4357
Via its dedicated pharmacy division, Sullivan University, which is a private university, offers three programs in pharmacy technology: Pharmacy Technician Certificate, Pharmacy Technician Diploma, and an Associate of Science in Pharmacy Technician.
Students are admitted to the campus-based Diploma and Degree programs on a selective basis, meaning they must meet college level admissions standards, have completed required general education modules at the school - or at an accredited school elsewhere - and pass a personal interview. They must also pass drug and criminal background checks and prove their legal immigration status.
For those just starting out in the profession, the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program may be the best place to do that. Offered online it is a 36-credit hour program that has the distinction of being approved by both the PTCB and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
The program offers students access to the knowledge needed to pass the PTCE as well as the chance to complete an in-person internship with a local employer. Students must be 18 or older and, in order to complete an internship, pass background and drug tests.
The cost of this program - and the others offered as mentioned here - is charged on a per credit hour basis. The cost is $395 per credit hour, a rate charged to all students. Most students make use of traditional financial aid to meet this cost.
3. The Medical Institute of Kentucky
2720 Old Rosebud Rd. #230 Lexington, KY 40509 | 859-368-0575
The Medical Institute of Kentucky is a for profit vocational school that offers a variety of career-based training programs to primarily adult students making a career change. For those interested in the idea of becoming a certified pharmacy technician they offer a Certificate in Pharmacy Technology.
The program is a hybrid offering, with many classroom-based lessons offered as online learning and lab work completed on campus at the school's downtown Lexington campus. This gives students both the practical and theoretical knowledge they need to pass their certification exam and begin working as an entry level pharmacy technician.
The course is charged as a flat rate price, but that varies from $4,800 to $8,000 according to a student's ability to qualify for scholarships. The cost cannot be met via traditional financial aid; however, interest free payment programs are available.
4. Campbellsville University
1 University Drive Campbellsville, KY 42718 | (270) 789-5393
Campbellsville University is a private Christian university and offers students a fixed cost Pharmacy Technician certification that is currently offered on campus at their Campbellsville location or online.
The program, which is PTCB approved and includes the cost of taking the PTCE exam, is a 9 to 12 month offering that covers all the information and basic skills needed to pass the PTCE and begin working as an entry level pharmacy technician. It is open to those who are over 18 and hold a high school diploma or GED.
While coursework can be completed online if a student chooses, they must still complete an in-person internship in order to graduate. At this time, they will be required to take and pass drug and background checks and prove they are up to date on all required immunizations.
The total cost is $2,399.00 and that price includes books and fees in addition to the exam fee. This cost cannot be met by traditional financial aid, but a limited number of workforce grants are available, in addition to an interest free payment plan.