Key takeaways

The time to become a pharmacy technician varies widely, from a few months to two years, depending on state requirements and the type of training chosen, including on-the-job training, diploma or certificate programs, or an associate degree.
Pharmacy technicians need a range of skills, including strong communication, proficient math skills, attention to detail, good organization, strong computer skills, flexibility in task management, and excellent customer service abilities.
Job prospects for pharmacy technicians are growing at a slower-than-average rate of about 4% over the next ten years, but the pandemic has increased job opportunities, with many employers offering sign-on bonuses.
The cost of becoming a pharmacy technician can range from minimal (just the certification exam fee) to several thousand dollars for formal education programs, with some employers covering certification costs.

How long does it take to become a pharmacy tech? | Pharmacy tech education requirements | Required skills | Job prospects | Resources

Pharmacy technicians are a crucial part of a pharmacy staff. They’re responsible for providing a wide range of services: helping to fill prescriptions, ringing up customers, answering the phone, calling insurance companies, and even administering vaccinations. If you’re considering becoming a pharmacy technician, there are multiple ways to achieve this career goal—but it takes time, dedication, and on-the-job experience. Here’s everything you need to know.

How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?

It’s a pretty wide timeline. “Programs can vary in length and mode of delivery, [and] timing can range from months to one or two years,” says Kathleen Adams, Pharm.D., an assistant clinical professor of pharmacy practice at the UCONN School of Pharmacy. The length of time depends on your state’s requirements and the type of training you choose.

There are three types of pharmacy technician training programs:

On-the-job training at a pharmacy: Some states have no prerequisites to becoming a technician. You can get a job in a pharmacy and learn there. Time to complete: 1 to 2 months
A diploma or certificate program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP): Some states require certification or licensure after completing training. These pharmacy technician programs often include certification exam preparation and internship or externship opportunities to gain real-world experience. Time to complete: 1 year or less
An associate degree program through a community college or vocational school: These include general education and coursework such as pharmacy law or pharmacology. This type of program can be a good option for someone who is considering becoming a pharmacist in the future, as these credits may count as prerequisites for pharmacy school. Time to complete: 2 years

After completing your training, prior to working as a technician, some states require you to complete one or both of the following:

Pass a certification exam: There are two pharmacy technician certification programs: the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcare Career Association (NHA). The PTCB requires you to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) while the NHA requires you to pass the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) to receive certification.
Apply for a license: Given by a state board of pharmacy, a license shows you have met the requirements to complete the job. Requirements vary by state, but may include a minimum amount of training, passing a certification exam, or simply registering with the state.

Whether a certification or license—or both—is required varies widely from state to state. However, “national certification has become the baseline credential across the industry, and many employers expect their technicians to have certification or obtain certification within a certain amount of time of employment, even in states that may not require certification,” explains Jeremy Sasser, CPhT, a pharmacy content strategist at the National Healthcareer Association. After completing your initial training, most states have continuing education requirements to maintain your certification or license every two years.

How to become a pharmacy tech without going to school

The fastest way to become a technician is to work in a pharmacy and receive job training—and then pass a national certification exam or apply for licensure, if required. But skipping formal training programs or schooling may not comply with your state’s regulations, so make sure you check with your local pharmacy board first.

In order to apply for certification, you don’t need to have been enrolled in an accredited program; the PTCB certification offers two “pathways,” which includes work experience equivalent to a training program (a minimum of 500 hours, per the PTCB). Additionally, you’ll need to be a resident of the U.S., have a clear work history, and receive a passing score on the PTCE exam.

Assuming your state allows for you to take a non-schooling route to becoming a technician, there really are only a few other minor requirements; typically, you have to be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED. Some states require a background check prior to employment. A college degree is not normally required to become a pharmacy technician.

What skills do you need to become a pharmacy tech?

On top of meeting your state’s requirements, you’ll need to consider whether becoming a pharmacy technician aligns with your skill sets and personality. There’s more to it than you might think! A pharmacy technician is responsible for many different workplace tasks.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), pharmacy technicians are responsible for packaging and labeling prescriptions, maintaining inventory, handling customer payments, coordinating insurance coverage, and assisting the pharmacists with daily tasks like answering the phone. And that’s just the bare minimum! Pharmacy technicians can work in several settings: a retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacies, nursing homes, or even research facilities. Depending on the setting, a pharmacy technician may also distribute medications to patients, give immunizations, contact healthcare providers for refills, check dosages, and mix medications.

Successful techs often possess many of the following attributes:

Strong communication skills: You’ll be communicating daily with your coworkers, insurance companies, doctor’s offices, and, of course, your customers or patients.
Proficient math skills: You don’t have to be a mathematician, but you will likely need to count and measure prescription medications, as well as keep track of inventory.
Attention to detail: A medication mix-up can be dangerous. “A commitment to medication safety and patient care is vital,” Dr. Adams says. “[Pharmacy technicians should] understand the importance of ensuring the accuracy of every dose and making sure that medications reach their patients in a timely fashion.”
Good organization skills: A disorganized technician can disrupt the flow of the workplace and cause unnecessary errors to be made.
Strong computer skills: Today’s pharmacies are reliant on computer systems to receive and process prescriptions, bill insurance companies, and ring up customers.
Flexibility: Pharmacies can be busy workplaces, with multiple tasks needing to be completed in a short period of time. You might be asked to stop filling prescriptions and serve customers at the counter, for example, and will need to be able to pivot from one duty to the next.
Excellent customer service skills: While you should be able to get along with your coworkers, pharmacy technicians work with patients daily, and that relationship with customers is one of the most important parts of your job.

In general, the basic skill set is the same for all pharmacy technicians regardless of the setting they are working in, but some skills become more or less important depending on where they’re working. For example, in a hospital setting, technicians still need to have proficient math and computer skills, so they can distribute and compound medications. However, they may not need the same degree of customer service skills as retail pharmacy technicians since they usually aren’t working with patients directly.

What are the job prospects for pharmacy techs?

The BLS estimates that the job field will grow about 4% in the next 10 years. That’s a slower-than-average rate. However, there may be no time like the present to get a job as a pharmacy tech.

“Due primarily to the pandemic, there are a lot of opportunities currently for pharmacy technicians—so many, in fact, that many larger employers are offering sign-on bonuses to pharmacy technicians to help fill openings,” Sasser says.

There is a lot of turnover in the field as well, since many people work as technicians before moving on to pharmacy school to become pharmacists, leaving their positions open and improving the job outlook.

The average annual salary for a pharmacy technician is just over $35,000 per year. However, a certified pharmacy technician salary may be higher. Your years of experience can also determine how much you make.

“For years, technicians have taken on significantly more responsibilities, and there are a lot more opportunities for performing advanced tasks such as technician product verification, administering immunizations, performing point of care testing, and medication therapy management, just to name a few,” Sasser explains. Many technicians feel the added roles and responsibilities have significantly out-paced wage growth.

Job openings for pharmacy technicians are posted on many major job listing sites as well as the sites of individual drug stores or grocery stores—such as CVS, Publix, and Walgreens—making it relatively easy to locate available pharmacy technician jobs.

How much does it cost to become a pharmacy tech?

The amount of money you’ll need to invest in becoming a technician largely depends on the route you take; if you jump into a technician position, receive on-the-job training, and then take a certification exam through PTCB, your only expense will be a $129 exam fee. Some employers will cover the cost of the test, so be sure to ask your manager!

If you decide to enroll in pharmacy technician school, however, there may be additional costs:

Training programs accredited by the ASHP, like many offered through pharmacy schools at colleges and universities, seem to range between $2,000 and $4,000. At the Cleveland Clinic School of Pharmacy Technology, for example, tuition costs are $2,500, while Duke University Health System’s technician training program costs $3,300.
Training programs offered at community college or vocational schools often cost between $1,000 and $2,000.

In other words, there are low, or no-cost options to break into this field.

Learn more about becoming a pharmacy tech

If you’re interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, you can start by checking out the resources available at the following organizations:

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)’s Technician Program Accreditation portal
National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)
U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics’s Occupational Outlook Handbook for Pharmacy Technicians
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
Pharmacy Technician License Requirements by State at Pharmacy Times

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s the most important takeaway: The road to becoming a pharmacy technician is fairly customizable to your goals. It can take just a few short months of on-the-job training, or involve one to two years of formal education programs. Whatever you choose, it still takes significantly less time and money to become a tech than a pharmacist, making it one of the quickest and easiest ways to start a career in the pharmacy field.