Pharmacy Technician Certificate Major Credits
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program courses are designed to prepare students with key technical and administrative skills required of today’s pharmacy techs.
- XPHM 100: Introduction to Pharmacy (3 Credits)
- XPHM 110: Pharmacy Practice I (3 Credits)
- XPHM 120: Pharmacy Practice II (3 Credits)
- XPHM 130: Pharmacy Practice III (3 Credits)
- XPHM 140: Pharmacy Tech Exam Prep (3 Credits)
- XPHM 195: Pharmacy Internship (5 Credits)
Total Credits: 20
Program Costs
The University of Providence is committed to affordability and providing pricing transparency for all School of Health Professions programs. Pricing transparency at UP includes:
- Accessible and up-to-date information on tuition costs, university fees, application and admission fees, deposit amounts, and additional program costs.
- Cost of attendance worksheets outlining specific tuition layouts by program and semester.
- Information about scholarship opportunities and tuition discounts for specific groups.
- Information about the financial aid process.
Visit our Tuition and Fees page to access the latest pricing information. Access the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Estimated Cost Breakdown Sheet to view pricing information for this certificate program, including a cost breakdown by semester and associated program costs.
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program is eligible for federal financial aid (FASFA). Visit our Financial Aid page to learn more about the financial aid process and for support in applying.
A Career As A Pharmacy Technician
Students graduating with a Pharmacy Technician Certificate and who receive national certification go on to serve as pharmacy technicians across healthcare. The most common places for pharmacy technicians to work are retail pharmacies, drug stores, and hospitals. However, technicians can also find work in pharmacy labs, large healthcare clinics, and drug manufacturing facilities.
Common pharmacy technician job responsibilities include preparing, sorting, packaging, and labeling medication, organizing, and managing pharmacy inventory, filling customer prescriptions, answering customer questions, and processing customer payment and insurance information.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that jobs for Pharmacy Technicians will increase slightly higher than the national average over the next ten years. The industry is expected grow at a rate of 6%, adding 25,900 jobs between 2022 and 2032. Salaries for pharmacy techs vary by multiple factors. Nationally, Certified Pharmacy Technicians make from $31,000 to $48,000, with the average salary for a technician being $39,117.
Application & Admission Requirements
The University of Providence’s Pharmacy Technician Certificate program accepts applications for fall and spring enrollment. Application deadlines are August 16 each year for fall enrollment and December 20 for spring enrollment. For updated information on undergraduate application requirements, deadlines, and program-specific requirements, please visit the University of Providence admissions page.
View the following application and admission requirements both Pharmacy Technician pathways:
Program Application: Applicants must complete an online undergraduate application.
Applicant Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or older for consideration.
Official Transcripts: Applicants must submit their official high school transcript. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Admissions Office from your high school. Include transcripts from any dual enrollment or other pre-college programs attended, and results of any AP tests.
Submit official transcript(s) from any university/college where undergraduate coursework was completed. Transcripts can be sent directly to the following address: University of Providence | Admissions | 1301 20th Street South | Great Falls, MT 59405, or may be submitted electronically directly from the institution.
Minimum GPA Requirements: Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75. If a minimum 2.75 GPA was not achieved in prior high school or college coursework, an additional admission essay and academic review will be required for admission into the program.
Criminal Background Check: Applicants must pass a criminal background check
Background checks must be completed prior to program enrollment
Mathematics Placement Exam: Upon acceptance into the program, applicants must complete a math placement exam and review math assignments successfully.
Additional Program Information
Learning Outcomes
Discover learning outcomes for the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program:
- Provide compassionate and culturally appropriate care across care settings and life span.
- Provide high quality and safe care with every patient encounter.
- Perform within the ethical and legal boundaries of the Pharmacy Technician scope of practice.
- Demonstrate professionalism and communication skills to improve the work environment and patient outcomes.
Skills You’ll Learn
Discover the skills you’ll learn in the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program:
- Compounding intravenous (IV) solutions
- Delivering medications to and from satellite pharmacies
- Restocking automated medication dispensing systems
- Mixing and dispensing orally administered medications.
- Unit-dosing tablets from a bulk bottle
- Receiving and confirming prescription orders
- Preparing and filling prescriptions
- Practicing medication safety
- Managing inventory and performing organizational tasks
- Entering prescription orders into pharmacy computer systems
- Packaging and labeling prescriptions
- Verifying insurance and payment information
- Providing customer service to patients
Skill Lab Locations
Discover the skill lab locations offered in the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program:
- Missoula, Montana
- Providence St. Patrick Hospital: 500 W Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802
- Richland, Washington
- Kadlec Regional Medical Center: 888 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352
- Seattle, Washington
- Swedish Ballard: 5300 Tallman Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
- Portland, Oregon
- Providence Portland Medical Center: 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97213
Additional Links & Resources
- Pharmacy Technician Certificate Curriculum
- Tuition & Fees Page
- Pharmacy Technician Estimated Cost Breakdown Sheet
- University of Providence Financial Services
- How to Apply to the University of Providence
- Pharmacy Technician Exam-Prep Course Application
- Your Questions Answered: Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive
The University of Providence is committed to supporting the healthcare workforce by empowering current healthcare professionals to start, enhance or advance their career in healthcare. The Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive (HPTI) Program provides currently employed healthcare professionals with the opportunity to apply tuition discounts to in-demand programs offered through our School of Health Professions catalog.
Visit the Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive Program page to learn more.
Providence Health & Services Partnership
Our unique partnership with Providence Health allows eligible Providence Caregivers and their dependents to receive an exceptional education from an accredited, faith-based, university. Caregivers and their dependents who enroll at the University of Providence can receive many possible benefits, such as discounted tuition rates and preferred admission, as part of their education benefits. Visit the Providence Human Resources Service Portal to learn more about caregiver education benefits, the application process for our programs, and tuition discounts.
Earn-While-You-Learn Pathway
Pathway Overview
The Earn-While-You-Learn pathway offers students a different way to earn their Pharmacy Technician Certificate. Through the Earn-While-You-Learn program, students can graduate debt free, employed at a pharmacy under contract, and nationally certified as a pharmacy technician – all while getting paid. The pathway is available to a SELECT NUMBER OF STUDENTS EACH SEMESTER. Students who are enrolled in the Earn-While-You-Learn program enroll in the same Pharmacy Technician Certificate courses, and are required to meet the same graduation, curriculum, skill labs, and internship requirements.
Pathway Completion Process
Students considering the Earn-While-You-Learn pathway can expect to take the following steps as part of their journey through the application, program, and graduation process:
- Student applies for employment at a participating pharmacy location.
- Student completes any application/interview processes outlined by the participating pharmacy.
- Student is hired by the pharmacy under employment contract.
- Student applies for admission at the University of Providence.
- Student completes all coursework, skill lab, and internship requirements.
- Student applies for and takes the PTCB-CPhT national certification exam.
- Student passes the CPhT exam and goes on to work for the hiring pharmacy.
- Student works at the hiring pharmacy for the lifetime of the employment contract.
Available Locations
Program locations vary based on availability and are subject to change depending on the hiring needs of the participating pharmacy locations.
Listed below are currently hiring locations for FALL 2024:
- ANNOUNCED ON OR AFTER APRIL 15, 2024.
Employment Contract Information
All students enrolled in the Earn-While-You-Learn pathway are required to sign an employment contract with the hiring entity indicating their commitment to work for the partnering pharmacy upon completion of the program for a determined timeframe set forth by the employer. All employment contracts, pay, tuition reimbursement and other associated contract stipulations are determined and negotiated through the student and the partnering pharmacy. UP is not involved in any work contract negotiation.
Pharmacy Technician Exam-Prep Course
Program Overview
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate Exam-Prep course is a single, 8-week, asynchronous course offered 100% online. Open to currently practicing technicians, the course combines multiple learning modalities into a single, streamlined course for working technicians who are seeking national licensure through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Successful completion of a PTCB-recognized education or training program
OR
- Successful completion of 500 minimum hours of work experience as a pharmacy tech
Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted for the fall and spring semesters. Applications must be submitted through the Pharmacy Technician Exam-Prep application.
Course List
Pharmacy Technician Exam-Prep Course
- XPHM 293: Pharmacy Technician National Exam Prep Course
Program Costs
Pricing information for the Pharmacy Technician Exam-Prep course includes:
- General Tuition Rate: $1,100
- Healthcare Professionals Tuition Rate: $640
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam Fee: $129
- Textbook: $35 (Est)
Total Program Cost (General): $1,264
Total Program Cost (Healthcare Professional: $804
Start Your Career In Healthcare With A Pharmacy Technician Certificate At UP
Start your journey to becoming a certified pharmacy technician with a Pharmacy technician Certificate from the University of Providence. Our dynamic program curriculum and qualified faculty will provide you with the support and quality education you need to succeed. Enroll today.
Find out more about the program by Requesting Information.
