Pharmacy Technician

Get established in a rewarding healthcare career without spending years in school.

The Pharmacy Technician program from Asher College provides the practical skills, hands-on experience and personalized support it takes to pursue a professional career helping others.

By partnering with PioneerRx Pharmacy Software, our program allows students to learn in a real-world environment using the most installed software for independent pharmacies. Students enhance their clinical and functional skills by training in a pharmacy system that is innovative, robust, and feature-rich.

The PT program is available via Hybrid delivery. Asher College's implementation of Hybrid methodology includes live video events, webinars, one-on-one virtual meetings, discussion boards and other virtual solutions. The hybrid model has an on-campus attendance obligation during each week of a student’s program. Students are monitored by Academic Activities and Regular Substantive Interaction with faculty.

Industry-Informed Curriculum – Get the Skills Employers Look For. The Pharmacy Tech program at Asher College has been developed with the support of our expert advisory board. That means what you learn has been directly shaped by recommendations of the employers who hire Asher graduates, so you get the real skills employers look for in a new hire.

Real-World Experience – Learn Hands-On in a Real Pharmacy Setting. Gain first-hand practical experience and job preparation in a real, working pharmacy setting under professional supervision. Apply your classroom learning directly to a real-world setting when you interact with clients/patients and other healthcare professionals.

National Certification & State License Prep – Get the Credentials to Succeed. As a student at Asher, you’ll have dedicated mentorship throughout your program, including support to achieve the certifications and licensing you need to successfully work as a Pharmacy Technician. Training for the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is included in your program. Plus, get support to apply for your state pharmacy technician license.

Career Services – Dedicated Help to Build Your Career. You’re in good hands with Asher College’ Career Services Department. The experienced Career Services team at Asher College works on your behalf to discover new opportunities for you while you work towards completing your career training program.

When the student is interested in pursuing admission, they must meet with an Admissions Advisor and Financial Aid Representative or Veteran School Certifying Official and provide proof of eligibility. Following completion of these steps, if the prospective student meets the admissions requirements, as demonstrated through the interview and the ability to meet the financial obligations, they are eligible for admission.

Program prerequisites: High School Diploma, or HS Equivalent & ability to pass live scan fingerprinting. Only prospective students enrolling in the Pharmacy Technician or AAS Pharmacy Technology programs are required to pass the Wonderlic entrance exam prior to enrollment (minimum scores: Verbal-200 / Quantitative-140).

Student status. Full time = 24 hours/week; ¾ time = 18 hours/week; Half time = 12 hours/week.

Program length. Full time = 48 weeks; ¾ time = 62 weeks; Half time = 92 weeks.

Start dates. Asher College utilizes an open enrollment policy with classes beginning every other Monday (Monthly Class Starts at the Sacramento campus); program end dates are calculated prior to enrollment and vary by start date, program and hours per week. The next start date listed for the Sacramento campus is November 2, 2026.

Attendance. Minimum attendance (catalog addendum): part-time hybrid students complete 12 hours of work per week with 8 hours on campus, ¾-time hybrid students 18 hours with 12 on campus, and full-time hybrid students 24 hours with 16 on campus.

Class times. Every Asher College campus is open 6 days per week, Monday through Saturday.

Holidays. Asher College closes campus for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Program cost. Sacramento Catalog (eff. Jan 1, 2026) tuition and fee schedule (p.112): tuition $21,889; registration fee $200; books $1,111; total $23,200. Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) fee: $0.00. The schedule of total charges for a period of attendance and an estimated schedule of total charges are the same.

Payment methods. Check, credit card, third party payments, federal loans and grants, private loans and other methods are accepted. Terms are dependent upon agreement with students and any third-party participants. TFC Credit Corp. processes and manages Asher student notes.

Federal financial aid. Asher College participates in Federal Pell Grants, Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford (Direct) Loans, Federal PLUS Loans and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Cal Grants are awarded by the California Student Aid Commission. While filling out your FAFSA connect to Asher College with the code 040573.

Veterans education benefits. Military Benefits Accepted at Asher College include Chapter 31, 33, and 35. Each Campus also accepts GI Bill®, Chapter 31 and is eligible to accept the military spouse My Career Advancement Scholarship program.

Asher Advantage Scholarship. Available based on financial need; students fill out a FAFSA and a Scholarship Request Form. Sacramento can approve per quarter 16 scholarships up to $30,000. Scholarships are disbursed to the tuition account once the student has completed 80% of the program with a 2.75 GPA or better; no cash is disbursed in place of the scholarship.

Net Price Calculator. https://asher.edu/net-price-calculator/

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.

The PT degree program is appropriate for job roles including:

• Pharmacy Technician
• Pharmacy Clerk
• Pharmacy Assistant
• Medication Technician
• Central Fill Technician
• Insurance Representative

The Pharmacy Technician Program prepares you with a comprehensive set of skills necessary to become employable as a Pharmacy Technician. Once you have the skills and your license, you may find work in:

• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Retail Pharmacies (Drugstore Chains, Grocery Stores)
• Insurance Companies
• Mail-Order and Web-Based Pharmacies
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Wholesalers
• Government Agencies

School Performance Fact Sheet, Sacramento campus, calendar years 2023 & 2024. On-time completion: 2023: 8 of 10 students graduated on time (80%); 2024: 2 of 3 students graduated on time (67%). Job placement: 2023: 5 of 7 graduates available for employment were employed in the field (71%); 2024: 2 of 2 graduates available for employment were employed in the field (100%). This fact sheet is filed with the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

PTCE pass rate, Asher College – Sacramento. For Pharmacy Technician Certification Exams administered 1/1/2023 – 11/17/2025, 21 of 23 exams were passed (91%); the national average pass rate was 69%. These results are based on self-reported information from candidates who identified Asher College as their educator (PTCB Educator Pass Rate Summary Report).

Asher College Pharmacy Technician graduates meet the requirements for the California State license from the State Board of Pharmacy by exceeding the minimum of 240 hour’s instruction required. The curriculum covers the training specified by the State Board of Pharmacy 16 CCR § 1793.6.

Background checks may disqualify students from becoming a Pharmacy Technician in California. Other requirements for the license include a certified copy of your high school transcript (or official HS Equivalent test results), Live Scan fingerprinting, and a completed application to the Board of Pharmacy.

Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) eligibility requires completion of a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program or equivalent work experience, full disclosure of all criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions, compliance with PTCB Certification policies, and a passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).

Hybrid Delivery Model. Asher College’s implementation of Hybrid methodology includes live video events, webinars, one-on-one virtual meetings, discussion boards, and other virtual solutions. The hybrid model has an on-campus attendance obligation during each week of a student’s program. Students are provided with any physical course material needed prior to beginning a course and have access to all lesson plans and digital course material for any currently enrolled course or previously taken course through the student portal.

Convenience & Support. Hands-On Learning in On-Campus Learning Labs, Community Interaction On-Campus & Online, and Personalized Support When & How You Need It. Every Asher College campus is open 6 days per week, Monday through Saturday.

A Career Services Department Dedicated to Your Success. We provide the highest level of support to students each and every day. At Asher College, you’ll be known by name, and your professional goals will be embraced by our career training faculty and staff. We offer free tutoring and comprehensive career services assistance designed to help you land that perfect position after you graduate.

The Sacramento campus. Asher College’s Sacramento Campus opened its doors in 1998. We offer you the kind of focused education and training that sets the vocational college apart from traditional schools. Asher has built solid connections with employers throughout Sacramento and surrounding counties. Some employers we partner with include: Robert Half Technology, Envisions RX, CVS, Blue Shield, PG&E, State of CA, Intel, Sutter Health, and Coram Healthcare.