Pharmacy Technician

With continued concern over the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a growing demand for trained pharmacy technicians! This fall. Cuesta College is offering online pharmacy technician training with live instruction, virtual labs, and a 120-hour externship.  The pharmacy technician program includes topics such as: the profession of pharmacy, law; laws, regulations and measurements; drug supplement and development; pharmacology, routes of drug administration, prescriptions and drug insurance; community pharmacy; hospital pharmacy; sterile and non-sterile compounding; safety; ethics; infection control and aseptic technique and clean rooms.    Upon successful completion of online training, each student will be placed in a local retail pharmacy to complete 120-hours of hands-on training.  

Program includes a 120-hour externship where you will receive hands-on training in a pharmacy under the direction of a pharmacist. Upon successful completion of the Pharmacy Technician program, you will be eligible to apply for your California Pharmacy Technician License*.

Pre-Requisites: You must be 18 years of age or older and have a High School diploma or equivalent (GED or HiSet); be proficient in keyboarding; understand computing and word processing; have good English language skills and Math skills. Must also have internet access, printing capabilities, and an email address. A clean background check is necessary for licensure in CA.

*This program fulfills the education requirements of the California Board of Pharmacy (Business and Professions Code Section 4202) for pharmacy technician licensure.

Externship: Upon successful completion of the classroom training, students will participate in a 120-hour externship, where they will hone their practical skills. CTS has an affiliation agreement with CVS and Walgreens. To guarantee externship placement, the student should be available 3 full-time business days each week.

Externship Alternative: If the COVID19 pandemic is still affecting the community , the student may elect to sit for the ExCPT exam in lieu of externship.

Licensure: For students who successfully complete 260-hours, this program meets the education requirements of the California Board of Pharmacy (Business and Professional Code Section 4202). Students may apply for the pharmacy technician license upon successful completion of the program. Application fee is $195.

Certification: Career Training Solutions’ pharmacy technician program has been approved by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCE) and the National Healthcareer Association (ExCPT). Both certifications are recognized by the California Board of Pharmacy.

Textbook(s): Pharmacy Practice for Technicians 7th Edition, Pharmacy Labs for Technicians 4th Edition, Pocket Drug Guide Generic Brand Name Reference.  Link to order a discount will be emailed to registered students.

Career Information: Pharmacy technicians are licensed professionals who help prepare and dispense prescription medications. They take prescriptions over the phone and in person, work with health professionals and customers, help mix medicines, count pills, measure medication, label and give instructions for medicine, and help take payments. (Source: www.mbc.ca.gov )

Salary Information: The median wage for Pharmacy Technicians in California is $47,620.  (Source:  https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm#st ) 

Tuition: $2,399 (Textbooks and uniform for externship purchased separately.)