Why This Matters
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60% OF PHARMACY TECHNICIANS ONLY HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
However, you can also study to become a pharmacy technician if you’ve been awarded a certificate for training completed after high school.
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PHARMACY TECHNICIAN JOBS TO GROW 4% BY 2029
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) estimates that approximately 437,600 pharmacy technicians will be employed in 2029, as opposed to 2019’s 422,300 technicians.
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50% OF PHARMACY TECHNICIANS EARN MORE THAN THE ANNUAL AVERAGE
Although the remaining half earns less than the median annual wage of $35,100, the top 10% were paid well above $50,430 annually.
Our Research
Our list ranks the top pharmacy technician training programs based on variables such as the most affordable, most comprehensive, best for certification, and best full-time options. These programs typically award a certificate or advanced degree upon completion.
Besides that, our list comprises pharmacy technician programs that have been accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). They typically accredit programs that involve at least 600 hours of instruction within a minimum of 15 weeks.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Pharmacy Technician Training degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 60 hours to write this article
- 70 universities and colleges we assessed
- 114 education programs we compared
Best 33 Online Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
North Central Missouri College
Intelligent Score: 99.85In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$170 per credit
Online, On-campus
Higher Learning Commission
16 credits
Southeast Community College
Intelligent Score: 98.42In-state: $15,098
Out-of-state: $15,602
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
In-State: $102 per credit
Out-of-State: $123 per credit
Online, On-campus
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
30 credits
Aiken Technical College
Intelligent Score: 98.29In-state: $18,156
Out-of-state: $19,730
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 500 or higher
ACT: 22 or higher
Resident: $189 - $204 per credit
Non-Resident: $267 per credit
Online, On-campus
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
39 credits
North Dakota State College of Science
Intelligent Score: 97.9In-state: $17,689
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: NA
ACT: NA
In-State: $144.34 - $161.66 per credit
Out-of-State: $173.21 per credit
Online, On-campus
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
44 credits
Allen County Community College
Intelligent Score: 97.46In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$60 per credit
Online
Higher Learning Commission
31 credits
State Fair Community College
Intelligent Score: 96.95In-state: $17,464
Out-of-state: $19,000
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
In-District: $167 per credit
In-State: $225 per credit
Out-of-State: $287 per credit
Online
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
18 credits
Sinclair Community College
Intelligent Score: 96.44In-state: $15,526
Out-of-state: $19,273
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
In-County: $126.03 per credit
In-State: $173.28 per credit
Out-of-State: $329.40 per credit
Online, On-campus
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
33-34 credits
Northwest Iowa Community College
Intelligent Score: 95.44In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$195 per credit
Online, On-campus
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
39 credits
Rasmussen University
Intelligent Score: 95.18In-state: $30,870
Out-of-state: $30,870
In-state: $23,715
Out-of-state: $23,715
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
Barton Community College
Intelligent Score: 94.32In-state: $32,590
Out-of-state: $32,590
In-state: $10,238
Out-of-state: $10,238
SAT: 930-1120
ACT: 17-22
$150 per credit
Online
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
29 credits
University of Alaska Anchorage
Intelligent Score: 93.69In-state: $36,848
Out-of-state: $50,432
In-state: $39,954
Out-of-state: $39,954
SAT: 1030-1250
ACT: 18-25
In-State: $234 - $351 per credit
Out-of-State: $800 per credit
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
16 credits
Lakeshore Technical College
Intelligent Score: 92.28In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
In-State: $138.90 per credit
Out-of-State $208.35 per credit
Online, On-campus
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
32 credits
North Central Kansas Technical College
Intelligent Score: 90.61In-state: $26,631
Out-of-state: $26,631
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
North Seattle College
Intelligent Score: 88.1In-state: $27,447
Out-of-state: $27,936
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
$128 per credit
Online, On-campus
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
49 credits
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Intelligent Score: 87.14In-state: $19,084
Out-of-state: $24,932
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
Vance-Granville Community College
Intelligent Score: 84.69In-state: $20,936
Out-of-state: $25,544
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
In-State: $76 per credit
Out-of-State: $268 per credit
Online, On-campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
13 credits
Stanly Community College
Intelligent Score: 84.37In-state: $18,588
Out-of-state: $25,039
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
In-State: $76 per credit
Out-of-State: $268 per credit
Online, On-campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
40 credits
Foothill College
Intelligent Score: 84.15In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$1,900 program cost
Online, On-campus
American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists
52 credits
What You Should Know About This Degree
If you’re interested in the medical field, there are similar options you could pursue. You can decide to join a program for medical assistants, dental assistants, medical records and health information technicians, or medical transcriptionists. Consider whether you’d rather work more with patients or behind the scenes in records.
Typically, most states require potential pharmacy technician students to have a high school diploma or GED. Moreover, some states or employers may need pharmacy technicians to be certified. In that context, only two organizations, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), can provide certification.
The employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to grow by 4% by 2029. As members of the general population continue aging, the dependence on prescription medications will eventually increase, leading to an increased need for pharmacy technicians.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online pharmacy technician training programs:
- How long does it take to complete this program? How long it takes to get certified as a professional pharmacy technician may vary depending on your employer’s requirements. However, most programs award a certificate after one year of study. Some training programs may last longer, leading to an advanced degree.
- Am I eligible for this program? You will likely need a high school diploma or GED to qualify for an on-the-job training program. You may also be eligible if you’ve completed a post-secondary education program in pharmacy technology. However, the typical process of becoming a pharmacy technician involves passing an exam or completing a training program for your formal education.
As you look for a pharmacy technician training program, remember to keep track of all the deadlines and materials needed for application and financial aid.