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Just three months to a better career! Our CPhT training program offers a comprehensive introduction to the knowledge and skills you need to become certified and to start a new career. In this page you will find very practical information about the online training itself, PTCB examination requirements, salary expectations and duties generally relevant to your new profession. We also included basic data about the Walgreens externship program made available by a number of Walgreens pharmacies.
WeCareOnlineClasses has be a leading provider of the CPhT online training program for years, and your instructors will do absolutely all they can to ensure your success at the PTCB exam and to prepare you for this major step in your career path.
Key areas of concentration include the role of the Pharma Tech in a professional environment, an overview of medications used to treat specific body systems, a breakdown of the different classifications of drugs, and a review of the basic sciences at the core of pharmacy
The course involves 160 Clock Hours of online training (on your own schedule), and 16 Clock Hours of hands-on experience in a pharmacy externship. We Care Online now has an agreement with Walgreens to provide the externship experience. (Each Walgreens has the option to accept or decline each individual.)
This course is recognized by the PTCB as an eligible pathway to become a Certified Pharma Tech (CPhT). The course offers helpful PTCB examination review so you’ll be ready to pass the national certifying exam.
We also provide information on career opportunities for pharma techs and advice on getting a job and advancing in the profession.
This course is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents.
Unit 1
1: History of Medicine and Pharmacy
2: Pharmacy Law, Ethics, and Regulatory Agencies
3: Competencies, Associations, and Settings for Technicians
Unit 2
4: Communication and Role of the Technician with the Customer/Patient
5: Dosage Forms and Routes of Administration
6: Conversions and Calculations
7: Drug Information References
Unit 3
8: Community Pharmacy Practice
9: Institutional Pharmacy Practice
10: Additional Pharmacy Practice Settings
11: Bulk Repackaging and Non-Sterile Compounding
12: Aseptic Technique and Sterile Compounding
13: Pharmacy Billing and Inventory Management
14: Medication Safety and Error Prevention
Unit 4
15: Therapeutic Agents for the Nervous System
16: Therapeutic Agents for the Endocrine System
17: Therapeutic Agents for the Musculoskeletal System
18: Therapeutic Agents for the Cardiovascular System
19: Therapeutic Agents for the Respiratory System
Unit 5
20: Therapeutic Agents for the Gastrointestinal System
21: Therapeutic Agents for the Renal System
22: Therapeutic Agents for the Reproductive System
23: Therapeutic Agents for the Immune System
Unit 6
24: Therapeutic Agents for the Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
25: Therapeutic Agents for the Dermatological System
26: Therapeutic Agents for the Hematological System
27: Over-the Counter (OTC) Medications
28: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Upon completion of this course, you should:
The data below were collected from the internet over the past year. They may have changed somewhat as the economy moved and Covid-19 lockdowns are easing up. Remember that salary is only part of your compensation package. A pharmacy chain may offer great medical benefits that complement your salary handsomely, saving you thousands in healthcare costs yearly. Also employers also add commuting expenses as part of their compensation packages, especially in rural areas where qualified labor is not readily available. Consider these factors when reading the data below.
The average salary for a certified pharma tech (CPhT) ranges between $26,000 and $39,000. … A lead pharma tech in a hospital setting can earn anywhere from $14 to $18 per hour.
While these estimates are a good baseline to go off of, keep in mind that the average pay does vary depending on where you live. (May 12, 2019)
The average Target pharma tech yearly pay in the United States is approximately $24,184 (Feb 23, 2021)
5 salaries reported $15/hr
2 salaries reported $12/hr
2 salaries reported $14/hr
1 salary reported $13/hr
(Source: Glassdoor.com)
25th Percentile Salary: $36,236 US
50th Percentile Salary: $40,183 US
75th Percentile Salary: $44,829 US
90th Percentile Salary: $49,060 US
(Source: Salary.com)
Based on average salaries, the states and districts where Pharma Techs are paid the best are: California ($45,200), Alaska ($44,280), Washington ($43,910), District of Columbia ($42,240), and Oregon ($42,160).
(Source: money.usnews.com)
In this section of our FAQ, we answer common questions related to the practical aspects of the certification training, including the externships available. We also cover questions related to recertification and the validity period of your license. If you want to read directly about the duties and conditions of your next career, skip this section and go to the next.
It depends on your career path. Certification training programs can generally be completed in a year or less, while associate degree programs take closer to two years to complete.
The program is 120 days, and teaches new technicians customer service skills, the business of pharmacy, patient safety, workflow and inventory.
In July 2017, the answer to this question was that it takes 2-5 years to do the training program at Walgreens (if you have no certification training). This is not the same as taking the Course with WeCareOnlineClasses, and doing your externship at Walgreens.
In 2016, CVS was paying for your on-the-job training, web-based training, and classroom training. They paid for your course materials and for your mileage driving to your classroom training. We do not have more current data.
The PTCB requires certified Pharma Techs to recertify every two years. In order to recertify, a technician must complete at least 20 hours of pharma-related continuing education.
(Source: Study.com – Sep 30, 2019)
CPhTs are required by the PCBT to renew their certification every 2 years to maintain their credential. Recertification ensures that CPhTs stay up-to-date in the specialty through the completion of continuing education (CE).
(Source: PTCB.org)
Some states do not require a Pharma Tech license to work in a pharmacy. A Licensed Pharm Tech meets the state’s requirements to work in this setting. … A Certified Pharmacy Technician meets a non-governmental agency’s requirements and passes a national exam to obtain certification.
(Source: Pharmacytraininrx.com)
Becoming a Pharma Tech can be fairly easy as you only need a high school diploma and on-site experience. Becoming a Certified Pharma Tech requires more effort, but the education is worth it. See below the syllabus (content) of our CPhT Training Course.
This section is an overview of the prospects of the CPhT profession, and the general duties that will be assigned to you when you are hired by a pharmacy or a hospital. If you are not sure that this is the career for you, read on. We have tried to give you a good overview of what it will look like when you wear those blue scrubs… Remember though that each employer has their own job description and set of rules. The PTCB defines the boundaries of your action, but employers have a lot of freedom in defining your job.
We have covered (in the questions above) your compensation expectations depending on where you are employed.
A Pharma Tech career is also a stable one with ample employment opportunities and increasing demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for this career is bright with an above-average growth rate.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Pharma Techs is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.
There are many reasons to embrace this career, including job security and good pay. Some people are attracted to the profession because it offers a chance to work in the healthcare provider industry without having to perform any clinical duties.
This line of work of can be stressful because accuracy is vital. Incorrectly filled prescriptions, wrong dosages or mislabeled bottles can become serious health risks.
A Pharma Tech is also in direct contact with customers. When they wait in line or wait for their prescription to be filled out, people can become aggravated. This can cause you stress if you do not have people skills.
This career offers advancement opportunities. You can begin in a tech position, but as your career progress you can climb up the ladder or branch out into a different field.
Pharma Techs can earn a number of specialty certifications to qualify for higher-paying positions. They can continue their education to earn their doctoral degree and become a Pharmacist. They can also transition to a different path: pharmaceutical sales, management, or compounding.
• Closed-door pharmacy
• Compound pharmacy
• Hospital pharmacy
• Pharmacy benefit manager
Techs often interact directly with customers, taking personal information and processing payments for prescriptions. Assistants handle more of the administrative side of the pharmacy. They may do some counting of medication or labeling bottles, but they don’t usually prepare the prescriptions for customers.
They work closely with a Pharmacist to ensure the health and safety of their patients. They locate, dispense, pack, and label prescribed medication. This is reviewed for accuracy by a Pharmacist before dispensed to the patient.
They generally wear dark navy blue scrubs.
It is recommended to wear comfortable, skid proof, close-toed shoes. There is a lot of walking back and forth and standing at the counter: your shoes must be comfortable.
Whether working in a retail pharmacy or at a hospital pharmacy, the Pharma Tech assists the Pharmacist in distributing medication to patients. The former may not dispense any medication without the latter’s approval, and may not offer any advice to patients regarding their medications.
Yes. The Technician who completed only the minimal educational requirements will take 6-7 years of schooling in order to obtain a Doctorate and become a licensed Pharmacist.
Your hours may vary from very part-time to full time, depending on your employment location and the hours available at the location.
Yes, it requires basic math.
A Pharma Technician cannot dispense any medication without a Pharmacist’s approval and may not consult any patient regarding their medications.
Yes, they are considered essential healthcare workers.
Pharmacy Technicians can call the patient’s physician’s office regarding prescription refills, but may not take new prescriptions over the phone.
Because of the heartbreak caused by failing an exam, and also because taking an exam requires long preparation and costs some money, you may be naturally worried about your chances to pass the PTCB examination, and the conditions attached to registering for the exam. This section is an overview of the questions we often get from students who have enrolled in our CPhT training program. Yes, the exam is not very easy, but remember that your WeCareOnlineClasses instructor is fully invested in your success, and the course itself prepares you step by step to this event. Based on our students feedback, we are very confident in the quality of the content of the course, and the way it is delivered to students with very different learning habits and challenges. We want you to feel confident that you will overcome the challenges with the help of our CPhT certification study guide, your classmates and your instructor. Even though you study at home, you are never alone in your progress!
You can schedule a re-take.
Basic math. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Fractions
It is not easy. But if you study, you should be able to pass easily. The training offered by WeCareOnlineClasses is organized to help you pass the exam. It is gradual and you cover all the knowledge you need to take the Certification exam.
The passing scaled score for the Pharma Tech Certification Exam (PTCE) is 1400, with a range of possible scores of 1000 to 1600.
Due to the use of scaled scoring, the PTCB does not provide a percentage or number of questions that must be answered correctly in order to pass the exam.
Study, study, study! Use the numerous study aides available in our training, and the aides available on the PTCB website.
You have to take a PTCB-approved course before taking the PTCE.
To fully prepare for taking the PTCE, you need books covering at least three topics: Pharmacy procedures and practice; Pharmacy math; and Pharmacology (the study of medications).
In addition, you will want to buy or make two sets of flashcards.
With WeCareOnlineClasses.com, you will need to pay for the class ($1250), the textbooks (approx. $160), and the PTCB exam fee ($129).
We cannot reveal any of the questions, but the Pharma Tech Certification Exam is a 2-hour, multiple-choice exam that contains 90 questions: 80 scored questions and 10 unscored questions. Each question lists four possible answers, only one of which is the correct or best answer.
A calculator is built into the PTCB exam. You can’t use a personal calculator. However, if you request a hand-held calculator and one is available at your test center, you should be permitted to use it.
No, you must take a PTCB-approved course. CPhT applicants who are within 60 days of completing a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program are eligible to take the PTCE.
However, CPhT Certification will not be granted until you provide the PTCB with a proof of education/training completion.
You need to know the Certification Course content regarding: Medications; Federal Requirements; Patient Safety and Quality Assurance; and Order Entry and Processing.
