Pharmacy Technician Classes Phoenix, AZ

Today, pharmacy technicians assume a broad range of responsibilities by managing all the daily activities within the pharmacy that do not require a pharmacist’s professional judgment. There are many exciting opportunities for pharmacy technicians in the bustling city of Phoenix, Arizona. Technicians and trainees within the state must apply for licensure to work legally within the state. The Arizona State Board of Pharmacy oversees the licensure of technicians and trainees. Applicants must provide proof of legal US residency, a high school diploma and $82 for the application fee. While the board doesn’t require proof of pharmacy technician training or certification, only those individuals with a PTCB certificate can be registered as pharmacy technicians. All other applications are processed as pharmacy technician trainees. The following is a list of colleges that help students prepare for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam.

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Carrington College

Students complete the pharmacy technician certificate program at Carrington College in just nine months. Instructors use theoretical and practical training in the school’s mock pharmacy to help students get the skills they need to pass the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam and excel on the job. The curriculum covers 676 contact hours of theory and practical work. Course modules include Anti-Infectives and Retail Operations Theory, Retail Operations Lab, Pharmacy Software and Pharmacy Calculations Theory, Prescription Processing, Pharmacy Calculations, Body Systems, Repackaging Theory, Unit Dose Lab, Compounding and Pharmacy Calculations Lab, Hospital Operations and Parenteral Dosage Calculations Lab, Career Development Seminar, and Pharmacy Externship.

Admission criteria:

  • Provide proof of high school graduation – official transcript required
  • Submit an application for admission
  • Take and pass the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam with a score of 13 or above
  • Attend an interview with an enrollment representative
  • Provide a written statement explaining the choice of career
  • Must be in good physical and mental health
  • Pass a background check and drug screen

The cost of the program is $18,070 including tuition, fees, books, and supplies.

GateWay Community College

Students enrolled in the pharmacy technician program at GateWay Community College will learn basic pharmacy principles that will enable them to assume entry-level employment in a community or institutional pharmacy. Instruction will include medical terminology, reading and interpreting prescriptions, preparing IV medications, counting and measuring medications, preparing insurance claim forms, ordering supplies, operating cash registers, and packaging and labeling medications. The curriculum will cover 424 contact hours of theory and practical training. The pharmacy externship accounts for 200 clock hours. Graduates will receive a Certificate of Competency will be eligible to take the PTCE to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Classes meet 24 hours a week for 4 months.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED
  • Attend an information admission session
  • Complete an Arizona Level I fingerprint clearance card
  • Complete a satisfactory background check
  • Pass a urine drug screen
  • Submit documentation of immunization
  • Submit a completed Healthcare signature form
  • Provide Accuplacer reading score of 74 or greater or next-generation score of 249 or greater
  • Have a current government-issued identification

Tuition for the program is $2,691. It includes lab fees and books. Additional costs for registration, uniforms, background check, drug screen, and equipment must be covered by the student.

Arizona College of Allied Health

Arizona College of Allied Health provides high-quality education, personalized support, real-life experiences to prepare students for a career a pharmacy technician. The ASHP accredited program includes a pharmacy externship during the final quarter. The school offers hands-on training in pharmacology, medical terminology, drug abbreviations, and drug prescriptions, training in pharmacy management software, practical training on-site and during the pharmacy externship, content taught by experienced faculty, and modern facilities and lab. Students also benefit from open lab and tutoring, peer mentoring, flexible schedules, accelerated training options, and job placement assistance. The curriculum covers 772 contact hours or 50.0 credit hours. The Schedule of Courses includes Pharmacology, Health and Wellness with Blister Packaging, Sterile Preparations, Pharmacy Law and Ethics, Pharmacy Calculations, Data Entry Systems & Third Party Billing, Retail Pharmacy Systems, Inventory Systems & Sterile Compounding, and Technology and Special Topics. Healthcare Fundamentals and Professional Studies include Career Development, Medical Administrative Practices, The Body as a Whole, The Body’s Circulation & Defense, and Medical Terminology. The duration of the program is 34 weeks.

Admission criteria:

  • Submit a completed application to Arizona College
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Sign the enrollment agreement and financial agreements
  • Complete a satisfactory background check
  • Pass a urine drug screen

Tuition for the program is $16,998. It does not include registration, shoes, uniforms, and a watch with a second hand. Other costs include fingerprint clearance, drug screen, HESI testing, student liability insurance, background clearance, and immunizations.

East Valley Institute of Technology

The pharmacy technician program at EVIT prepares students for entry-level employment as a pharmacy technician. The training will include theory and a pharmacy externship will students will have the opportunity to work under the direction of a licensed pharmacist. Students will learn medical terminology, packaging and labeling prescriptions, receiving prescriptions, stocking shelves, customer service, and billing and insurance. CPR training is also included in the program. Students have the option to dual enroll in two online PMI courses to earn 13 credits. Graduates will have earned 8 credits to apply toward the PMI Health Care Administration Degree program. Students The program is designed to be completed in two semesters.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be 18 years of age
  • Consent to random drug testing

Tuition and supplies cost $4,885.

GateWay Community College

The Certificate of Competency in Pharmacy Technician program GateWay College fulfills the PTCB requirements for pharmacy technician preparation so graduates will be eligible to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. Instructors will cover regulatory standards and interpersonal skills as well as the role and responsibility of the technician. The curriculum will include 652 contact hours of theory in the classroom and real-world practice. The clinical rotations account for 200 hours of the total curriculum and will be conducted in a community or hospital pharmacy. Students must arrange their transport to the clinical site and pass the course with a grade of 75% or above to complete the program. Required courses include Keyboarding II, Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Tech I, Pharmacy Tech II, Math and Dosages, Pharmacy Tech Certification Review, and Pharmacy Tech Externship.

Admission criteria:

  • Complete the Health and Safety documents
  • Must have a valid government-issued photo ID
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • A high school diploma or GED is required for admission – a high school GPA of 3.0 or above is required
  • Complete an Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card (DPS)
  • Provide proof of immunizations
  • Have a current Healthcare Level CPR Card
  • Submit a completed Healthcare signature form signed by a physician
  • Complete an MCCCD Supplemental Background Check and negative drug screen
  • Take and pass a math placement course

Tuition costs $97 per credit for resident students.

PIMA Medical Institute

The pharmacy technician program at PIMA Medical Institute includes hands-on experience in the school’s real-world lab as well as lectures in the classroom. It includes 840 hours of instruction or 33.5-semester credits. Course modules include Study Skills, Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology, Computer Basics, Math Fundamentals, CPR & First Aid, Pharmacy Math, Inventory Maintenance, Pharmacology, Pharmacy Law & Ethics, Pharmacy Math, Pharmacy Technician Duties, and Pharmacology. Other modules include Pharmacy Math, Principles of Customer Service, Pharmacology Pharmacy Lab Skills, Pharmacy Computer Applications, Fundamentals of Chemistry, and Pharmacy Externship. The duration of the program is 9 months.

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Admission criteria:

  • Submit an application for admission
  • Submit documents verifying high school graduation or equivalency
  • Meet with a representative from PMI to discuss career interest
  • Pass an entrance exam – Wonderlic SLE and the PMI Math Admissions Test

Tuition for the program is $17,018.50 and includes textbooks, lab supplies, uniforms, and tax.

  • Website: https://pmi.edu/
  • Address: 957 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85202
  • Phone: 800-477-PIMA

Medstar Academy

The Pharmacy Technician Training program at MedStar Academy is a PTCB recognized program that prepares students for national certification. The curriculum covers a total of 240 contact hours – 120 in the classroom and 120 for the pharmacy externship. Courses include medical terminology and abbreviations, customer service, inventory management, packaging and labeling, pharmacology, pharmacy math, billing and insurance, pharmacy operations, receiving prescriptions, and brand name and generic drugs. Classes meet four days a week for ten weeks – 7 weeks in the classroom and 3 weeks of clinical rotations at a local Walgreens pharmacy. Day and evening schedules are available.

Admission criteria:

  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • A valid photo ID and social security card
  • Take and pass an admissions test – English and Math competency
  • Have no felony convictions or drug or pharmacy related convictions
  • Pass a 5-panel drug test
  • Pass a background check
  • Secure an AZ Pharmacy Technician Trainee license

Tuition costs $2,225. Additional costs include scrubs, drug test, trainee license, fingerprint clearance card, federal background check, cards and materials, registration fee, fingerprint rolling fee, books, and PTCB national exam. A payment plan is available for all students.

Western Maricopa Education Center

The pharmacy technician program at West-MEC prepares students with the skills to dispense prescriptions under the direction of a licensed pharmacist. The curriculum covers 600 hours of instruction including a 160-hour externship. The sequence of courses include History and Foundation of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law, Medical Terminology, Dosage Forms, Dosage Calculations, Introduction to Pharmacology, Medication Errors, Safety Protocols, Sterile Compounding, Community Pharmacy, Emergency Preparedness, Hospital Pharmacy, Billing and Reimbursement, Extemporaneous Compounding, and Professionalism. The duration of the program is 4 quarters – one year.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be a junior or senior in high school
  • Complete at least one credit of English and Algebra with a grade C or better
  • Submit a copy of unofficial transcript
  • Provide proof of residency in West-MEC district boundaries at the time of registration
  • Must have up-to-date immunizations
  • Provide a copy of birth certification at the time of registration

The cost of the program is $7,050. The registration includes enrollment processing, supplies, uniform shirts, and leadership development.

Mayo Clinic — Phoenix Campus

The coursework covered in the pharmacy technician program at Mayo Clinic equips students with the knowledge and skills to enter the field of pharmacy. The theoretical concepts will be delivered using videos and interactive modules online – the first 12 weeks of content will be delivered online. Students will then have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained by participating in the hands-on activities in the school’s simulation lab. The final 8 weeks of the program is dedicated to experiential rotations at various Mayo Clinical locations. The curriculum will cover a total of 624 contact hours. Courses covered at Introduction to Pharmacy, Pharmacology for technicians, Career Development, Principles of Pharmacy Operations. Pharmacy Simulation lab, and Pharmacy Experiential Rotation I and II. Graduates will be eligible to take the PTCE to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Enrollment opens twice a year and a limit of 21 students is admitted with each cycle.

Admission criteria:

  • Must be a high school graduate or possess a high school equivalency certificate
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must pass a state and national background check
  • Provide two references from professionals
  • Provide proof of US citizenship or residency
  • Demonstrate English language proficiency
  • Must have basic computer competence and keyboarding skills
  • Obtain registration as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee
  • Submit an online application

The estimated cost of attendance is $457, which includes free tuition, background check, PTCE, books, supplies, and uniforms.

How Do I Get Free Pharmacy Technician Training in Phoenix

Free pharmacy technician training is available at Mayo Clinic. Once admitted to the program, you will automatically receive the Mayo Clinic Workforce Development Scholarship, which covers the full cost of tuition. You will receive the scholarship for the duration of the program as long as you remain in good standing. The training helps to support the Mayo Clinic’s staffing needs. The Mayo Clinic Workforce Development Scholarship provides tuition-free access to produce qualified candidatesto fill current job openings that are in high demand.

How Long Does It Take to Become A Pharmacy Technician in Arizona?

The normal completion time for a pharmacy technician certificate program is 16 to 36 weeks.

How Do I Become A Pharmacy Technician in Arizona?

You must be registered as a pharmacy technician trainee or pharmacy technician to practice in Arizona.

Apply for registration as a pharmacy technician trainee if you have not yet passed the PTCB or ExCPT examination and have never before held a technician trainee or technician license with the AZ Board of Pharmacy.

To apply for the pharmacy technician trainee registration submit the following to the Board:

  • A completed application for Pharmacy Technician Trainee Registration online
  • The application fee of $25
  • Proof of legal residency and birth date
  • Your government issued photo ID – driver’s license, state ID, passport or passport card
  • Documentation of name change – of applicable

The pharmacy technician license is for those who have pass the PTCB or ExCPT exam and have never held a technician license with the AZ Board of Pharmacy.

Submit the following to the Board to apply for the pharmacy technician license:

  • A completed application for Pharmacy Technician Licensure form
  • The non-refundable application fee of $82
  • Proof of legal residency and birth date
  • A government issued photo ID – driver’s license, state ID, passport or passport card
  • Proof of high school graduation or its equivalent – high school diploma, high school transcript, GED certficate
  • Proof of passing the PTCB or ExCPT exam – PTCB certificate or wallet card, ExCPT certificate certificate (issued after November 16, 2016)
  • Verification of licensure or certification for each professional or occupational license – if applicable
  • A copy of AZ Fingerprint Clearance Card
  • Documentation of any name changes – if applicable
  • Copies of court documentation related to all arrests, charges or convictions – if applicable
  • License denials – if applicable
  • Disciplinary actions – if applicable

Full details on the Arizona Pharmacy Technician License Requirements available here.

What are the Requirements to Work as a Pharmacy Technician in Arizona?

Pharmacy technicians working in community and institutional pharmacies in Arizona must have current registration as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee or Pharmacy Technician from the Arizona Board of Pharmacy.

How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make in Phoenix?

Certified pharmacy technicians in Phoenix earn an annual median wage of $37,855. Experienced pharmacy technicians in some organizations earn as much as $44,530 annually.

Which Pharmacy Technician Certification is Best?

The Arizona Board of Pharmacy recognizes national certification from both the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the National Healthcareer Association. ExCPT certificates must be issued after November 16, 2016, to be accepted by the Board.

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