Spotlight on Top 5 Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Top Pharmacy Technician online schools, bring the ability to achieve the goal of becoming a pharmacist assistant to the comfort of home.

All of the benefits of a traditional college, such as access to financial aid, counselling and tutoring are just as accessible, as well as being more convenient because of flexibility.

Online schools will generally be more short-term as coursework is accelerated. Studies have shown that students attending a pharmacy technician school online perform much better than a student a trained at traditional university.

If you have a job, the coursework can be completed at a student’s convenience.

By setting your own pace, more knowledge is absorbed versus the strict curriculum of a traditional classroom. No worries about transportation either, as all training is done from wherever a student wishes.

Because some costs aren’t necessary, such as parking fees, commuting and textbooks and because of resources like online textbooks, it is sometimes cheaper to attend an online learning facility.

As discussed some down-sides to attending an online school is that a student won’t receive the hands-on experience that eventually will be needed to be successful in this career. 

Depending on your computing experience, you may or may not be comfortable with learning new software applications they may be required for certain courses.

Studying with classmates or receiving one-on-one tutoring may also be more appealing than emailing back and forth if a student is having difficulty understanding an assignment. 

Bottom line though, an online course is ideal for individuals with part-time jobs, childcare and other engagements that may limit on campus learning.

The Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA)

UMA at Clearwater, FL offers a 61.5 credits Associates Degree to become a pharmacy technician and prepares students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) exam.

Their curriculum, which requires 18 months to complete focuses on acquiring the knowledge and experience to assist pharmacists with preparing and dispensing prescriptions at hospitals, retail pharmacies, nursing homes and mail-order pharmacies.

Additionally, after graduation students will be able to: restock inventory, keep and maintain medication records and profiles on patients, along with preparing commercial medications that are not readily available. Being ABHES accredited gives students the assurance that their degree is acceptable. This only online program also offers 180 hours of hands-on experience under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist at a local pharmacy.

Available online programs include:

• Pharmacy Technician (AAS Degree)

Penn Foster

The U.S. Department of Education lists the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), who accredits Penn Foster Career School, as being recognized as a national accrediting entity.

Penn is fast becoming renowned for its pharmacy technician training which helps prepare students (PTCE) offered by PTCB and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered by NHA.

Their online pharmacy technology take 9 months to complete and prepares students for entry-level employment. 

Typical classes includes: medical terminology, math calculations, ethics and updating patient records as well as providing pharmacist assistance with office duties. In addition their online program will help secure an externship at your local CVS/pharmacy and Walgreens Pharmacy.

Available programs include:

• Pharmacy Technician (Diploma)

North Dakota State College of Science

This college focuses on training their students to master and obtain the knowledge and skills required to become a pharmaceutical technician.

A very high percentage rate of graduates succeed in gaining employment after attending their 65-credit hours online pharmacy technician program.

Their programs are accredited by American Society of Health System Pharmacists. Typical classes at NDSCS include calculations, law, inventory management, ethics and an internship along with the option for hybrid learning on either of their two campuses in Fargo and Wahpeton.

The programs available are:

• Pharmacy Technician (AAS Degree)
• Pharmacy Technician (Certificate)

Allen County Community College

The online pharmacy technician school at Allen County Community College prepares a student for many medical careers, including pharmacy technician and lays down the foundation towards earning a bachelor's degree or master's degree in this field.

Their online course will enable trainees to complete certification with PTCB or NHA. With campuses in Iola and Burlingame online students have the same access to library and lab resources as those attending classes full time.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the 60-credit hours course is completed in two years and is a great foundation for those who wish to ultimately become a pharmacist.

The program available:

• Pharmacy Technician (AAS Degree) 

Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Obtaining an online Associate of Science degree (60-credit hours) in Pharmacy Technology or Diploma (36-credit hours) at MSCTC is made hassle-free by their program’s directives of preparing a student in assisting pharmacists in filling prescriptions, IV medicine preparations and how to dispense medications in hospital and retail settings.

Preparing students for potential employment in several arenas of health care, including institutional and retail settings. Their online pharmacy technology program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and is a blend of on-campus lab classes in Wadena and online courses that will equip students to measure, mix, count, and label medications.

Another plus of their online programs is that they’re eligible for the Minnesota Two-Year Occupational Grant Pilot Program, which aids with tuition fees.

The two programs available are:

• Pharmacy Technician (Diploma)
• Pharmacy Technician (AAS) 

Before registering for any one particular school, determine if the school is following your states' requirements and is accredited in order to be able to transfer credits to another university if necessary to obtain a higher learning degree.

Some online pharmacy technician schools require that you complete an internship/externship under a practicing pharmacist or in a hospital pharmacy.

Some classes you will be expected to pass will be:

• Medical Terminology
• Pharmacology
• Communication
• Algebra
• Ethics and Law
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computers and Technology

As previously mentioned, online pharmacy technician schools are now comparable to traditional learning institutions in level of knowledge and latest teaching techniques. While learning online may be very desirable for some potential trainees, the traditional approach to obtaining a degree may be more what some students want.

Either way, you can be assured that attending online pharmacy technician schools are indeed a very feasible alternative!