Ever wanted to become a pharmacy technician?

What if we told you can you become a pharmacy technician without going to school?

Well, it is 100% possible.

In fact, you can even start your career as a pharmacy tech in the next few months.

In this article, we will cover all the necessary things required to become a Pharmacy Technician without going to school.

Let’s get started!

Related:
What is a Pharmacy Technician
How To Become a Pharmacy Technician

Why School is Not Recommended?

Firstly, let’s look at reasons why a school or a full-time program is not recommended for pharmacy techs.

And by a full-time program, we mean an associate degree program at a university or a certification/diploma program at community colleges or technical schools.

Let’s see why.

Too Expensive

Completing Pharmacy Technician Training by going to school can turn out to be quite expensive for you.

Tuition for a full-time program can start from $8000 and go as high as $40,000. That’s a ludicrous amount to spend on your education.

Plus, there are lots of expenses like admission fees, transportation fees, accommodation fees, and numerous day-to-day expenses that you will surely have to bear if you choose a school.

This might end in you having to take up financial aid in the form of student loans, which will take years and years to pay off.

Long Duration

Getting training from a Pharmacy Technician School usually has a fixed duration. If you want to complete your training from an accredited school/ university, this duration is up to 2 years.

However, if you choose a diploma/certification program, the training will take 1 year.

That’s a lot of time to spend on your education. Plus, for the entire length of the program, you have to attend classes on a schedule. This can get challenging for busy adults.

Now, you might be thinking, if attending a school isn’t the right option, how do you become a pharmacy tech?

Let us tell you how.

Pharmacy Tech lady.

Why You Need Pharmacy Tech Training

Here’s the deal – Even though you don’t need to go to a full-time school, you still need some kind of formal training.

The best way to get your training is to enroll in an online training program for Pharmacy Techs.

Read more: What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do

But first, let’s see the importance of completing Pharmacy Technician Training:

Prepares you for Career 

Getting training always brushes up your skills and knowledge required to master yourself in a particular field.

In the same way, Pharmacy tech training is essential for individuals pursuing this career. These specialized training programs provide the education and practical skills necessary to work as a pharmacy technician.

Teaches You Everything About Pharmacy Tech

Through training programs, all aspiring Pharmacy Technicians learn about drug classifications, dosage forms, and proper handling of medications.

With the help of these training programs, you will also gain proficiency in pharmacy software systems that help in record-keeping and proper inventory management.

These things are necessary to perform your duties, and a training program will prepare you for that.

Prepares you to Get Certified

Finally, if you want to be certified as a Pharmacy Technician, you need to enroll in a training program first.

After the successful completion of the Training, you can apply to get certified by filling up an application for an exam conducted by PTCB.

After passing the exam, you become a Certified Pharmacy Technician.

So you see, if you choose the right training program, in addition to the regular training, they will also prepare you for the PTCB exam.

Know more: How to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician

 pharmacy technician holding jar of capsules

Here’s What We Recommend

Now that we have set the importance of getting pharmacy tech training, you might be confused about which program you should go for.

Well, don’t worry! We have done the hard work for you.

For aspiring Pharmacy Techs, who are looking to start their careers faster, get the right education, and want to avoid student debt,  we highly recommend enrolling in Preppy’s Online Pharmacy Technician Training Program.

Preppy’s Online Training Program covers all the topics, and it gives you the best online experience to complete your Pharmacy Training at your own pace and comfort.

You also have access to all the modules and classes that you can access anytime. This is because, in addition to being 100% online, this program is self-paced.

There are additional advantages that Preppy offers with its Online Pharmacy Technician Program, such as:

  • Free Laptop
  • 24*7 Student Support
  • Prepares you to be Certified
  • Accredited University Certificate

Learn more -> Preppy’s Online Pharmacy Technician Training Program

Additional sources:

Pharmacy Technician Facts
Traveling Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician Salary
Pharmacy Technician FAQ
Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician
Data Entry Pharmacy Technician
In Patient Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician License vs Certification
Pharmacy Technician Programs
Pharmacy Technician Courses


About the Author
Grant founded OnlineDegree.com with a purpose-driven mission: make college accessible and affordable for everyone. After graduating college with an overwhelming amount of debt, he was determined to change how students embark on their education. He's a frequent speaker and author in higher education, and has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Business Insider, American Express, AOL, MSN, Thrive Global, Reader's Digest, Inside Higher Ed, Evolllution, EducationDive, and nearly 100 radio shows and podcasts.