Learn the skills you need to become a pharmacy tech in a hospital or retail setting with the Pharmacy
Technician Online Certification Training Program. You'll gain the skills and knowledge to qualify for entry-level positions in pharmacies, and you'll be prepared for national certification. This program pairs students with an instructor for one-on-one assistance and may include a 40- 100 hour externship. Please view complete details in the Description section.
All materials are included. This online certificate program is offered in partnership with major colleges, universities, and other accredited education providers.
Upon completion of this program, you'll be able to:
•Understand the laws that govern pharmacy, whether federal or state-mandated
•Discuss the HIPAA requirements and their application to the pharmacy
•Interpret physician orders and prescriptions
•Prepare and distribute medications
•Define medical and pharmaceutical terms and common abbreviations
•Understand the pharmacology of medications in relation to the anatomy affected
•Perform pharmaceutical calculations
•Communicate effectively with patients and medical professionals
•Process insurance billing or collect payments
•Pass the National Certification Exam
I. Orientation to Pharmacy
A. History
B. Standards i. Education Requirements ii. Professional Organizations iii. Code of Ethics
C. References i. Text ii. Journals

iii. Internet
D. Community Pharmacy i. Processing and Dispensing Prescriptions ii. Labeling Requirements
E. Required Equipment
F. Counter and Consulting Areas
G. Storage
H. Controlled Substances
I. Inventory i. Ordering ii. Restocking
J. Ethics and Standards i. Privacy ii. Confidentiality
K. Accountability
L. Computer Applications i. Components ii. Order Entry iii. Systems iv. Confidentiality
M. Institutional Pharmacy i. Pharmacy Organization ii. Medication Orders iii. Dispensing Systems iv. Sterile Products v. Inventory Control vi. Roles and Duties vii. Record Keeping viii. Policy and Procedure Manual ix. Regulatory Agencies x. OSHA xi. PPE xii. Antiseptic Technique xiii. Laminar Flow Hoods
II. Pharmacy Law and Ethics
A. Federal and State Laws

i. Reference ii. Governing Bodies iii. Types of Law iv. Violations v. Federal Laws vi. State Laws—Links vii. Agencies viii. Recalls ix. HIPAA
B. Schedule of Drugs
C. Ethics i. Pharmacist Code ii. Technician Code
III. Medical and Pharmaceutical Terminology
A. Introduction to Terminology i. Word Parts ii. Rules
B. Abbreviations and Calculations
C. Organs: Cardio, Endocrine, GI, Integumentary
D. Organs: Lymphatic, Muscular, Nervous, Skeletal, Reproductive
E. Organs: Respiratory, Urinary, Hearing, Sight
IV. Pharmaceutical Calculations
A. Basic Math Skills i. Fractions and Decimals ii. Ratio, Proportions, and Percents iii. Conversions
B. Community Pharmacy Math i. Prescriptions ii. Billing and Inventory
C. Institutional Pharmacy Math i. IV Room Calculations (Ration and Percentage) ii. Dosage Calculations iii. Dilutions and Alligations

V. Pharmacology
A. Unit 1: The Science of Pharmacology i. Evolution of Drugs ii. Pharmacology iii. Administration of Pharmacological Agents
B. Unit 2: Anti-Infectives and Drugs for Colds i. Antibiotics ii. Antivirals, Antiretrovirals, and Antifungals iii. Antihistamines, Antitussives, Decongestants, and Expectorants
C. Unit 3: Narcotic Pain Relievers and Nervous System Drugs i. Anesthetics, Analgesics, and Narcotics ii. Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and Antianxiety Agents iii. Anticonvulsants, CNS Disorder Drugs
D. Unit 4: Respiratory, GI, Renal, and Cardiac Drugs i. Respiratory Drugs ii. Gastrointestinal Drugs iii. Urinary System Drugs iv. Cardiovascular Drugs
E. Unit 5: Nonnarcotic Analgesics, Muscle Relaxants, Hormones, and Topicals i. Muscle Relaxants, Nonnarcotic Analgesics, and Arthritis Drugs ii. Hormones iii. Topicals, Ophthalmics, and Otics
F. Unit 6: Chemotherapy, Herbs, and Miscellaneous Drugs i. Recombinant Drugs and Chemotherapy ii. Vitamins, Nutritional Supplements and Natural Supplements, Antidotes, and CODE
Emergency Agents
VI. Communication Skills
A. Process
B. Verbal and Non-Verbal
C. Methods i. Fax ii. Telephone iii. Internet iv. Pagers

v. Written
D. Barriers i. Conflict ii. HIPAA
VII. Insurance and Inventory Procedures
A. Cost Analysis
B. Purchasing Procedures
C. Receiving
D. Record Keeping
E. Inventory Control i. Computers ii. Perpetual Inventory iii. Expired iv. Formulary v. Storage
F. Repackaging
G. Types of Insurance
H. Claim Forms
I. Billing
VIII. Lab Module
A. Unit 1: Retail Lab i. Interpreting Prescriptions ii. Counting, Measuring and Filling Containers iii. Filling Prescriptions
B. Unit 2: Hospital Lab i. Interpreting Physician Order Sheets ii. Aseptic Technique iii. Vials and Ampoules iv. IV Bags
IX. Clinical Rotations
A. Virtual Externship
B. Hospital i. Research Paper ii. On-Site Rotation

C. Retail i. Research Paper ii. On-Site Rotation (Walgreen's or other pharmacy)
X. Final Comprehensive Exam
This program is compatible with the Windows XP and later operating systems and IE 7 and later browsers and can be taken on either a Mac or a PC; however, most medical offices currently use PCs. A high-speed Internet connection is recommended.
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Acrobat Reader are required for this program. ed2go will provide the required materials for this program. They include:
•Pharmacy Practice for Technicians, 4th Edition
•Pocket Guide for Pharmacy Technicians
•Math for Pharmacy Technicians
•Pharmacology for Technicians: Understanding Drugs and Their Uses, 4th Edition
•Pharmacology for Technicians Workbook
•Virtual Pharmacy Externship for Technicians CD-ROM
•Pharmacy lab kit
If you're interested in becoming a pharmacy technician, this program is for you! No health care or medical office work experience is required to take this program.
You should be proficient in keyboarding (approximately 35 words per minute), have a basic understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word is recommended), and have a command of English grammar and punctuation.

Students are encouraged to have a basic understanding of high school math including percents and proportions at the algebra level. This program will provide a review of fractions and decimals, in addition to covering more advanced pharmacy equations.
In order to sit for the national certification exam, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent; therefore, it's recommended you have this before enrolling for this program.
Melissa Dunworth has been a pharmacy technician for over 13 years. She lives in Albuquerque, NM. She has worked in all pharmacy arenas (retail, closed pharmacy and training/education) during her pharmacy career. Melissa currently holds a Bachelors degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences and works as a Developmental Specialist in Early Intervention for children ages 0 to 3 years. She has been a certified pharmacy technician since 1997. Melissa is also registered with the New Mexico Board of
Pharmacy.
Betty Stahl has a doctorate in pharmacy from Shenandoah University. She has taught pharmacy technician programs at ASA College in New York City and ACT in Arlington, Virginia, over the past several years. Betty has also worked as a pharmacist at CVS and in hospital settings.
Lorraine C. Zentz, CPhT, Ph.D., has been a pharmacy technician since 1981. She lives in the small mountain town of Mesa, Colorado, population 400, and currently works on-call at the regional hospital in the oncology pharmacy in Grand Junction, Colorado. She has worked in all pharmacy arenas (retail, home health, hospital, oncology, and training and education) during her pharmacy career.
Lorraine received her Bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in chemistry, and her Master's degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction. She also completed her doctorate studies in adult education. She has held the position of Colorado state coordinator for NPTA and chairman of the
Colorado Pharmacist Society Technician Academy, and she’s been certified since 1985. In 2004 she was the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award and was also named Technician of the Year for the state of Colorado. Lorraine conducts continuing education programs for technicians throughout
Colorado and nationally at the annual NPTA convention.
1. How can I find my state's requirements for certification?
The Internet is a great resource. All states have a Web site with Board of Pharmacy information. You can access this information directly from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Web site at

www.ptcb.org. Click on their "Who we serve" link, then the "states" link for information. Or you can call the state board and ask for the current technician regulations.
Or you can call the state board and ask for the current technician regulations.
2. What if my state requires more than what's offered in this program?
Most states still offer employment prior to certification. This often comes with the stipulation that certification is acquired within a period of time (usually a year). During this period, you'll work as an unlicensed personnel member, clerk, or aide.
On-the-job training or externships are a great way to obtain the increasing number of hours required
(many states require a minimum number of hours worked before you can be registered or certified with the board). If your goal is to work in a hospital pharmacy, finding that job while you’re still a student will help you reach your employment requirements, along with the educational clinical requirements.
3. How will the Clinical Rotations or Externship be established?
PASS Institute will work with you to set up externships for at least 80 hours. . Once you've located a hospital or retail store and made contact, you'll notify the School. Once the school has the name, contact, and phone number of the facility, he or she can ensure you'll get the necessary training to complete your program. We can't guarantee the timeframe in which your clinical rotations will be established. If you’re currently working in a pharmacy setting, that will qualify. With the increase in confidentiality and privacy regulations and liability issues in relation to health information, clinical rotations could become difficult to accomplish. Please note students may be required to provide proof of professional liability insurance for externship program.
4. Can I register for programs if I am an international student?
Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.
5. How long does it take to complete a program?
All of our programs are self-paced and open-enrollment. You can start and finish the program at your own pace. When you register for a program, you're given an initial six months to complete the program.
Should you need more time beyond the six months, an extension of six months is available at no additional cost.
6. Do I have to buy additional materials?

All required materials are included. The cost of materials will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials (when applicable) via UPS ground service upon registration.
7. Can I get financial assistance? ed2go programs are non-credit programs, so they don't qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehabilitation or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our programs.
8. What happens when I complete the program?
Upon successfully finishing the program, you'll be awarded a certificate of completion.
9. Am I guaranteed a job? ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases.
We do not provide direct job placement services, but our instructors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Instructors will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
10. Who will be my facilitator?
Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance.
11. Can I use a Mac?
Yes, you can use a Mac for this program.
12. When can I start the program?
Our programs are all open-enrollment, which means you can register and start the program as soon as you're ready.
Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.