Pharmacy Technician is a Certificate program (100% Online) offered by U.S. Career Institute in Fort Collins, CO. The program takes 393 clock hours to complete, with a total tuition of $1,379.
Program Overview
U.S. Career Institute’s self-paced, online pharmacy technician program is designed to prepare you for certification and a role as a pharmacy technician in as little as 4 months.
The Pharmacy Technician Program trains students to assist licensed pharmacists in providing medication and other healthcare products to patients. Students gain training to effectively receive prescriptions from doctors and hospitals, prepare prescriptions for patients and verify insurance and prescription information. Additionally, graduates are trained to exhibit pharmacy standards, ethics, laws and regulations. They also learn to maintain inventory and stock orders, as well as enter data into the computer. Graduates of the Pharmacy Technician course will be trained in written and oral medical and pharmaceutical terminology, as well as basic human anatomy and physiology. They will be able to perform basic mathematical functions and dosage calculations utilizing metric, apothecary, and household systems. These skills will prepare them for an entry-level position in a hospital or retail setting.
What sets this Program apart
- 5-day money-back commitment
- DEAC Accredited
- 100% online, self-paced classes, on your phone or computer
- Complete in 4-9 months, part-time
- One-on-one career coaching and instructor support
- Start learning today - no waiting period!
- A+ BBB Rating, 45 years in distance education, and 97% of students would recommend U.S. Career Institute to a friend.
- The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
Lead instructor/course expert. KimDao Collier is a staff pharmacist at SCL Health Lutheran Outpatient Pharmacy and also fills in as the Pharmacist at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy as needed. KimDao gained experience working as a Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy Intern and then Staff and Floater Pharmacist while working for Walgreens from 2005 until 2016. KimDao helps future pharmacists by mentoring and evaluating assignments as the Writing Preceptor for the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. KimDao received her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy in 2010. She also received a Bachelor of Arts Humanities (Psychology/Asian studies) from the University of Colorado in 2006.
Admission Requirements and Process
To qualify for enrollment in the Pharmacy Technician program, an applicant must:
- Certify that she/he is a high school graduate, holds a state-approved Graduate Equivalency Diploma or its equivalent, or has completed college-level coursework; or otherwise demonstrate ability to perform postsecondary-level coursework (including test evidence).
- Submit a completed enrollment application with the required payment.
- Be at least 16 years of age.
U.S. Career Institute is an open enrollment school: as long as the applicant meets the admissions requirements for minimum education and age, they will be accepted into the school. Students must be able to read, write and speak English fluently. Students aged 16 and 17 may be admitted provided their parent or guardian signs the enrollment agreement; students under the age of 16 cannot be admitted. Applicants who do not meet the high school diploma or equivalent requirement are allowed to use test evidence to show they can benefit from the program: the first five grades the student receives serve as the basis for test evidence, and a “C” GPA meets the minimum education requirement. Most professional certification agencies have minimum age requirements (typically 18) to sit for a certification exam.
General Requirements
- Minimum ageYou must be at least 16 years old; students aged 16 and 17 need a parent or guardian to sign the enrollment agreement.
- High school diploma or GEDYou need a high school diploma or GED, or college-level coursework; otherwise you may use test evidence to show you can benefit from the program.
- EnglishYou must be able to read, write and speak English fluently.
- Basic informationThe enrollment form asks for your name, email, phone, date of birth and education level.
- Enrollment agreementYou must submit a completed enrollment application or agreement with the required payment.
Application Process
- 1Ask your questionsRequest information online or call U.S. Career Institute toll-free at 866-250-6851 to learn more.
- 2Provide basic informationThe form asks for your name, email, phone, date of birth and education level.
- 3Pay for your tuitionYou can pay in full or choose the monthly payment plan.
- 4Sign the enrollment agreement and disclosuresEnrollment takes about 5 minutes; the school accepts enrollments 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- 5Start your first lessonUpon enrollment, students have immediate access to their program online, with 12 months to complete it.
Program Schedule
The Pharmacy Technician program is 393 clock hours, delivered in 28 lessons with 28 quizzes. Students can complete it in 4-9 months, studying part-time. Classes are 100% online and self-paced, on your phone or computer, with no due dates or deadlines.
The program is designed for guided independent study through distance learning, and is self-paced. Each program is designed to be completed in 12 months or less; the student has 12 months after enrollment to complete the program, and a student who needs more time should follow the leave of absence procedure. The school accepts enrollments 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and upon enrollment students have immediate access to their program online. All quizzes are open book.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
U.S. Career Institute is committed to making your pharmacy technician education affordable and inclusive. Start a new career that you’ll love and find fulfilling without a mountain of debt!
- Option 1, pay in full: $1,079 (save $300); the application charge is waived.
- Option 2, monthly auto payments: $1,379 in total at $69 a month, with a first payment of $69, plus a one-time $29 application charge.
First payment includes $40 down payment and $29 application charge. Application charge is non-refundable.
5-day money-back commitment. After you receive your first lesson, you have 5 full days to decide if our program is the best route for you.
Funding. U.S. Career Institute participates in military education benefit programs and the MyCAA spouse support tuition program; specific questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the Veterans Administration by calling 1-888-GIBILL1. U.S. Career Institute also participates in various employer-paid and Vocational Rehabilitation programs. U.S. Career Institute does not participate in other financial aid programs.
All enrollments are assessed a one-time $29 application charge (2026 catalog price list). Students who wish to purchase textbooks or manuals may do so for an additional charge.
Required Courses
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Career Outcomes
Upon graduation from our program, you will receive your U.S. Career Institute Certificate of Completion attesting to your accomplishment. U.S. Career Institute's online Pharmacy Technician certificate program prepares you to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Included with our course, we cover the cost of your certification exam, study guide and practice test – a $223 value!+
As of March 1, 2024, our program can be used to fulfill the education requirements and/or gain certification or licensure (or licensure is exempt) in most states. Job growth for pharmacy technicians is over 2x greater than all other jobs by 2034. People transition into a pharmacy technician job because it offers a comfortable wage, good hours and benefits, a sense of fulfillment from helping others, reliability, job security, and it’s a growing field. The certification process is straightforward, and no prior experience is required to become a pharmacy technician.
What to expect as a U.S. Career Institute student
Beginner-Friendly Lessons. Classes are designed for anyone to easily learn, and are broken up into digestible sections that build as you progress through our program. No due dates or deadlines.
Engaging Curriculum. Reading lessons, supplemental videos, interactive exercises, note taking, read-aloud and disability features, and open note multiple choice quizzes with no time limit.
Student support and coaching. Your tuition includes access to instructors via phone and email, student services, tutoring, resume and job interview support, and one-on-one career coaching (a $400 value).
Learning materials included. Your tuition includes e-books, study guides, supplemental videos, and interactive exercises. Hard copy books are also available for under $50. Everything is included - no hidden fees after enrollment.
Grading and graduation. To graduate, students must submit all quizzes, attain a final average of 70% or higher, have a signed enrollment agreement on file and have paid tuition in full; U.S. Career Institute then releases the Certificate of Completion. Students with a grade point average of 93 or higher are awarded a seat on the Dean’s List.
Graduate support. U.S. Career Institute provides continuing employment instruction and advice, including training in job-search techniques, résumé and letter writing, interviewing and presentation skills, available to all graduates whenever they request it. The school cannot promise or guarantee employment and does not provide job placement services.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
U.S. Career Institute is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. It is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board.
Curriculum
The Pharmacy Technician program totals 393 clock hours, taught in 4 instruction packs, listed below as the course outline.
U.S. Career Institute’s curriculum is developed specifically for the distance education learner by instructional designers who specialize in how to develop content for adults and well-qualified subject matter experts that include a staff pharmacist to ensure quality content. The current subject matter expert has gained experience working as a pharmacy technician and pharmacy intern before earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. In addition, USCI works with a program advisory council of non-USCI employee who is a certified pharmacy technician working in the field to review content annually to ensure students receive content that is up-to-date, relevant and accurate.
Graduates of the Pharmacy Technician Program will be trained in written and oral medical and pharmaceutical terminology, as well as basic human anatomy and physiology. They will be able to perform basic mathematical functions and dosage calculations utilizing metric, apothecary and household systems. These skills will prepare them for an entry-level position in a hospital or retail setting. The coursework trains students to:
- Apply the skills needed to obtain entry-level pharmacy technician positions.
- Apply an understanding of root words, prefixes and suffixes to medical terminology.
- Assist licensed pharmacists in providing medication and other healthcare products to patients.
- Effectively receive prescriptions from doctors and hospitals, prepare prescriptions for patients and verify insurance and prescription information.
- Differentiate among physiological systems and the medical agents used to benefit patient wellness.
Required Courses
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Frequently Asked Questions
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