Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program-Full Program

Pharmacy Technicians primarily assist the pharmacist, help prepare and distribute medications, review prescriptions for completeness and authenticity, assist in payment and billing, control inventory and place orders. The work is very rewarding, including financially. Full-time Pharmacy Techs earn between $31,000 and $46,000 per year (part-time positions also exist) and often receive benefits. Pharmacy Techs working in a clinical environment like a hospital typically earn 30-40% more per hour, up to $79,000 per year. Pharmacy Technician is among the fastest growing occupations in California, predicted to grow by 25-35% through 2018.

Now Modularized So You Can Start Throughout the Year
We regularly refine and improve our Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program to make it the best it can be. Beginning Fall 2015, we have reformatted the instruction into 6 class modules, allowing you to begin our program with any of four modules. Our comprehensive, certificate program still totals over 490 hours of instruction, including valuable clinical training and an externship in which you will receive on-the-job training at a community pharmacy training site. Now with this new format, you can get started on your new career as a Pharmacy Tech most months of the year!

Our program curriculum meets the requirements of the Association of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). When you complete the required course work and meet the state requirements, you are able to obtain a State of California Pharmacy Technician license and can work in retail pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Module Schedule for this Program

Classes meet Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:45-10 pm and Saturdays 9 am-5 pm. Dates and times are subject to change.


E. Sterile and Non Sterile Products & Compounding   Feb. 21-April 8 (no meeting April 1-7)
Learn to prepare non sterile compound mediations, including creams, ointments, lotions, gels, suspensions, syrups and capsules. Receive hands-on training in the preparation of sterile products, like IVs, which are used in hospitals and other clinical facilities. Covers aseptic techniques, parenteral calculations, sterile dosage forms and quality assurance procedures.

A. Pharmacy Calculations  April 11-May 6
Learn to perform the calculations related to drug dosage, measurements of strength and preparations of medications.

B. Retail Pharmacy Operations  May 9-June 20 (no meeting May 27)
Gain an understanding of the roles and opportunities open to pharmacy technicians in retail, closed-door, home healthcare, and mail order pharmacy settings. Become competent in handling and gain hands-on experience preparing medications in our lab. Learn about pharmaceutical dosage forms, practice prescription labeling and perform role-playing scenarios. An emphasis will be on workforce professionalism and handling and preparing medications following legal and ethical guidelines.

C. Pharmacology    June 22-July 27 (no meeting July 4)
Learn the use and side effects of prescription medications, nonprescription medications and alternative therapies used to treat diseases affecting the muscular, skeletal, respiratory, renal, cardiovascular, hematologic and other body systems. Learn the brand and generic name, standard pronunciation, routes of administration for each medication studied and the medical terminology and abbreviations associated with the various medication therapies.

D. Hospital Pharmacy Services   July 29-Aug. 10
Gain hands-on training in an hospital (inpatient) pharmacy setting, covering pharmacy patient profile maintenance and medication preparation, order processing and distribution using manual and automated systems. Note that you cannot start the program with this module.

F. Pharmacy Externship   120 hours, schedule TBA approx. Aug. 15-Nov. 14
After you have successfully completed all 5 classroom modules, practice your Pharmacy Technician skills in a real-life community pharmacy. Externships schedules are flexible so you will start your externship anytime in the year after you have completed your classroom training.

Join us at our next Pharmacy Technician Program FREE Orientation to learn about the profession and our exciting program, meet our instructors and tour our lab.

To enroll in the program and pay in 3 installments, go to the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program-Part 1.

Note: To participate in the clinical experiences, you must be a high school grad and at least 18 years old. You will also need to get a clear criminal background check and a clear drug screen (this and other lab materials will cost about $200).