Best Pharmacy Technician Schools in Washington

Washington is home to 7,330 salaried pharmacy technicians which means that 4.2% of all pharmacy technicians work in the "Evergreen State". Aside from being one of the highest paying states for pharmacy technicians, Washington is also home to many outstanding and renowned medical facilities which makes this state a thriving spot for aspiring new trainees.

Washington Pharmacy Technician Requirements

Washington requires successful completion from a board-approved pharmacy technician training program.

Upon completion of a Washington pharmacy technician training program students are prepared for entry-level employment in retail and hospital pharmacies and pharmacies within medical and doctor's offices, government departments, mail order pharmacies, outpatient care centers and academic institutions.

Pre-requisites into a pharmacy technology program are usually: 

  • be a min. of 18 years of age,
  • a GPA of min. 2.5 or equivalent,
  • satisfy the ENG and MATH requirements and
  • have an accepted background as criminal history is also being checked.

Some colleges will also offer financial aid services, offer career advice and assist in graduate job placement.

Washington Pharmacy Technician Schools 

Listed below are schools offering Pharmacy Technician training programs in Washington. As a general rule, you should request information from more than one school during the course of your research as there are important differences between the training programs offered in each school i.e: cost, admissions requirements, courses, scheduling and start dates.

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Get information on Pharmacy Technician programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, WA offers an Associate of Applied Technology Degree (daytime program) or Certificate (evening program) with start dates in the Fall, Winter, Spring, & Summer Quarters. Some of the program features include: financial aid, state registration, preparation for the national certification exams and externships in local pharmacies. To make an enquiry contact the program director at (253) 589-5563.

Spokane Community College in Spokane, WA offers ASPH accredited certificate or AAS degree training programs over a 12-month period.  The course consists of classroom instruction, laboratory practice and clinical pharmacy training. Classes commences in September and are offered during the day on a full-time basis during the day. Upon completion graduates will be prepared to work in both community and hospital pharmacy settings. In addition graduates are required to take and pass the National Certification Exam before applying for a Pharmacy Technician license. To make an enquiry contact the program director at (509) 533-8199.

Washington Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements

Certification is mandatory.

The state of Washington require pharmacy technicians to be certified through either PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) or ICPT (Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians). There were 5,251 actively certified technicians PTCB CPhTs during 2021 in Washington alone. 

Washington Pharmacy Technician License Requirements

Licensure is required for pharmacy technicians to work in the state of WA.

Upon completion of the PhT program, students are required to take and pass the National Certification Exam before applying for a Pharmacy Technician license issued by the Washington Quality Assurance Commission (formally known at the Washington State Board of Pharmacy).

Career Opportunities

As a qualified pharmacist technician you can now choose to work from many areas of specialization:

  • Retail Pharmacy
  • Healthcare Clinics
  • Home Health Agencies
  • Prescription Manager
  • Long-term Health Care Facility
  • Pharmaceutical Companies

Pharmacy Technician Salary Washington (Hourly & Annually)

The average Washington pharmacy technician salary is $22.45 per hour or $46,690 per year

An entry level pharmacy technician in WA earns an average of $17.59 or less per hour, an experienced and/or certified pharmacy technician can earn upwards of $28.62 or more per hour depending on the years of experience and the work setting.

Other Cities in Washington State

References:

Salary Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment & Wages database.

Search Pharmacy Technician Programs

Get information on Pharmacy Technician programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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