I could complete it taking my own time as I had a lot of other things going on and definitely could fit this into my schedule by working around it.
I loved the online course with a busy schedule, it helped a lot. I had a great teacher.
I never thought I would be able to complete a course such as Pharmacy Technician online. At times the course became challenging, especially when it came to the calculations, but the books and CD's really explained the material thoroughly. Everyone from Central Michigan/Gatlin Education was extremely helpful and always responded back to me in a timely manner. I was encouraged throughout the course with positive and constructive feedback.
It was a great experience learning about the course. My facilitator was very supportive. I enjoyed the books because they were very informative and detailed.
I was able to study on my own time. I received support and answers to my questions and in a timely manner. For me, the online experience with this course went very smoothly. Thank you.
Being able to do the coursework at my own pace was the best part!
I just wanted to thank all of you for your course and the help you gave me throughout. I just passed my certification yesterday and I am looking forward to the future as a Pharmacy Technician.
My learning experience was awesome. My facilitator and student support personnel were obviously masters of their craft! The program was user friendly and in real time. I had big fun!
In general, I love learning. I got good feedback on all of my reports. The support that I received from Joshua (support staffer) went above and beyond my expectations.
Course Code: GES117
A. History
B. Foundations and Roles
C. Reference Materials
D. Terminology Words and Abbreviations
E. Terminology – Body Systems
F. Community Pharmacy
G. Hospital Pharmacy
H. Advanced Pharmacy Environments
A. Introduction to Law
B. Liability
C. Ethics
D. Federal Regulations
E. Controlled Substances
F. HIPAA
G. Safety Laws
H. State Laws
I. State Boards of Pharmacy
A. Number Systems
B. Math Skills Review
C. Dosage Calculations
D. Percentage of Error
E. Business Math
F. Dilutions and Concentrations
G. Oral Medications and Reconstitutions
H. Parenteral Doses
I. Intravenous Flow Rates
J. Pediatric Doses
A. Legislation and Regulation
B. Sources and Forms
C. Biopharmaceutics
D. Pregnancy and Lactation
E. Pediatric Patients
F. Geriatric Patients
G. Misused/Abused Drugs
A. Antidepressants/Antipsychotics
B. Antianxiety/Hypnotics
C. Autonomic Nervous System
D. Parkinson’s/Alzheimer’s
E. Seizures
F. Anesthetics
A. Musculoskeletal
B. Cardiovascular
C. Hypertensives/Cholesterol
D. Diuretics
E. Anticoagulants
F. Respiratory/Allergies
G. Gastrointestinal
A. Hormones – Endocrine
B. Hormones – Reproductive
C. Vitamins, Minerals, and Nutritionals
D. Antineoplastic
E. Analgesics
F. Anti-Infective/Antibacterial
G. Antivirals/Antifungals
A. Computers
B. Communications
C. Financial Management
D. Insurance
E. Billing and Collections
F. Inventory Control
X. Lab Practice II - Hospital
XI. Externship
XII. Final Comprehensive Exam
Melissa Dunworth has been a pharmacy technician for over 13 years and has worked in retail, closed pharmacy, and training/education areas during her career. Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences and works as a Developmental Specialist in Early Intervention for children ages 0 to 3 years. She has been a certified pharmacy technician since 1997. Melissa is also registered with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy.
Betty Stahl has a doctorate in pharmacy from Shenandoah University. She has taught pharmacy technician programs at ASA College in New York City and ACT in Arlington, Virginia, over the past several years. Betty has also worked as a pharmacist at CVS and in hospital settings.
Lorraine C. Zentz completed her pharmacy tech certification in 1981 and has worked in the retail, home health, hospital, oncology, and education areas. She currently works at the Job Corps Center in Collbran, Colorado. Lorraine received her Bachelor's degree in biology, her Master's degree in education, and completed her doctorate studies in adult education. In 2004 she received the Outstanding Leadership Award and was named Technician of the Year in Colorado. Lorraine has taught continuing education programs for technicians throughout Colorado and nationally.
If you're interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, this program is for you! No healthcare or medical office work experience is required to take this program.
You should be proficient in keyboarding (approximately 35 words per minute), have a basic understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word is recommended), and have a command of English grammar and punctuation.
Students are encouraged to have a basic understanding of high school math including percent’s and proportions at the algebra level. This program will provide a review of fractions and decimals, in addition to covering more advanced pharmacy equations.
In order to sit for the national certification exam, candidates must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent; therefore, it's recommended you have this within 6 months of enrolling for this program.
To participate in the CVS or Walgreens externships, students must not have a criminal record. Background checks will be conducted prior to the student's admittance into the externship program.
This program is compatible with the Windows XP and later operating systems and IE 7 and later browsers and can be taken on either a Mac or a PC; however, most medical offices currently use PCs. A high-speed Internet connection is recommended.
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Acrobat Reader are required for this program.
Click here to download the Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Flash Player.
ed2go will provide the required materials for this program. They include:
After successfully completing your program, you’ll also receive access to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) practice tests, to help you study for your certification exam.
Our Pharmacy Externship Program*
As a part of the Pharmacy Technician Online Certification Training Program, students are required to complete a Virtual Externship. They also have an option to perform an actual hands-on, 100-hour clinical externship. Clinical externships are based on individual state board requirements.
ed2go has reached a nationwide agreement with several pharmacies that will give our Pharmacy Technician Program students an important leg-up in the job market. These pharmacies will offer their renowned externship programs to you, provided you meet basic qualifications. Externs will get hands-on experience that includes assisting pharmacists with prescriptions, answering patient questions about medications, and a bevy of administrative duties.
In order to qualify for an externship, you'll have to pass a drug screening test, obtain professional liability insurance, complete a background check and employment verification, meet current immunization standards, and conform with and complete any state mandates, such as registration, fingerprinting, licensing, etc. Additional forms may be necessary for externships with certain pharmacies. It may take up to 12 weeks to find an available opening.
*Disclaimer: An externship with these pharmacies is not guaranteed. All students must apply to the program and complete the prerequisite criteria before being accepted. Positions in the externship program are contingent on availability at each pharmacy location. Students may also set up their own externship at any other retail or hospital facility. The externship is an additional 100 hours. To participate in the CVS or Walgreens externships, students must not have a criminal record. Background checks will be conducted prior to the student's admittance into the externship program.
PLEASE NOTE: Walgreens is not currently able to place externship students in Arizona and Florida because they're piloting a POWER project in those states. An alternate externship may be available in these states.
The Internet is a great resource. All states have a website with Board of Pharmacy information. You can access this information directly from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) website at www.ptcb.org. Click on their "Who we serve" link, then the "states" link for information. Or you can call the state board and ask for the current technician regulations.
Or you can call the state board and ask for the current technician regulations.
Most states still offer employment prior to certification. This often comes with the stipulation that certification is acquired within a period of time (usually a year). During this period, you'll work as an unlicensed personnel member, clerk, or aide.
On-the-job training or externships are a great way to obtain the increasing number of hours required (many states require a minimum number of hours worked before you can be registered or certified with the board). If your goal is to work in a hospital pharmacy, finding that job while you’re still a student will help you reach your employment requirements, along with the educational clinical requirements.
ed2go has established a national contract with Walgreens and CVS for Pharmacy Technician externships. Externships are based on availability and cannot be guaranteed. We will work with you to set up a pharmacy externship, in addition to the program hours. If you are interested in applying for an externship in a local pharmacy that is not a Walgreens or CVS, you may discuss these other options with your facilitator or externship coordinator. If you’re currently working in a pharmacy setting, that will qualify. With the increase in confidentiality and privacy regulations and liability issues in relation to health information, externships could become difficult to accomplish. In the event that you can't arrange an externship, you will complete the Virtual Pharmacy Externship for Technicians provided with the program. Please do not select the completion button unless you are opting out of the externship program. Selecting the completion button can disqualify you.
*By state regulation, you may be required to apply for your pharmacy technician license or register with the State Board of Pharmacy before you can apply for the externship. Please check the website for your state’s Board of Pharmacy regulations and additional information. The state’s Board of Pharmacy has the most accurate and up to date information.
Please note students may be required to provide proof of professional liability insurance for externship program.
No. To participate in the externships, students must not have a criminal record. Background checks will be conducted prior to the student's admittance into the externship program.
Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.
All of our programs are self-paced and open-enrollment. You can start and finish the program at your own pace. When you register for a program, you're given twelve (12) months to complete the program.
The time allotted to complete your program has been calculated based on the number of hours for each program, so don't worry too much about not completing in time. If, after a concerted effort, you are still unable to complete, your Student Advisor will help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that a fee will be charged for an extension.
All required materials are included. The cost of materials will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials (when applicable) via UPS ground service upon registration.
ed2go programs are non-credit programs, so they don't qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehabilitation or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our programs.
Upon successfully completing the program and fulfilling the financial obligation, you'll be awarded a certificate of completion. In addition, you will receive an exam voucher to sit for the National Certification Exam which is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), offered by Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We do not provide direct job placement services, but our instructors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Instructors will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance.
Yes, you can use a Mac for this program.
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button toward the top of the page). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Contact Us" form to the right. You may also call us at (855) 534-3690. We will answer your questions promptly.
Our programs are all open-enrollment, which means you can register and start the program as soon as you're ready.
Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.
Yes, you will be prepared to sit for the National Certification exam titled Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Unfortunately, students who enrolled prior to February 24th, 2016 are not eligible for the exam voucher. If you are a current student and enrolled prior to this date, you will not receive an exam voucher upon completion.
ed2go will provide the required materials for this program. They include:
Pharmacy assistants and technicians order and stock medications; prepare and package medications for distribution to patients; and provide information to patients. Pharmacy technicians may perform many of the same duties as a pharmacist; however, all of their work must be checked by a pharmacist before medication can be dispensed to a patient.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) administers the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), which determines an individual’s pharmacy technician knowledge. When you pass the exam, you become certified and may use the designation “CPhT.” You will need to sit for the exam after this course; certification is not included.
Our pharmacy technician courses are self-paced and completed in 12 months or less. You will then complete a 100-hour externship, if you qualify. You will then sit for your certification exam. Once you are certified, you’ll have the qualifications you need to find an entry-level job.