Best Online Pharmacy Technician Associate Programs

Pharmacy technicians dispense medications, fill prescriptions, and assist pharmacists. A pharmacy technician associate degree offers the most direct route to this field, providing foundational training in pharmacology and terminology.

Typically offered at community colleges, these programs usually require approximately 60 credits and can be completed in two years or less.

As pharmacists take on more patient-care responsibilities and the population ages, pharmacy technician responsibilities will grow with these demands. As a result, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the addition of more than 16,000 new pharmacy technicians between 2020 and 2030.

To help prospective students decide if this field interests them, this guide explores the program in detail, along with opportunities after graduation. It also highlights the best online pharmacy technician associate programs from the top online schools.

Online pharmacy technician associate programs attract students looking to build a medical foundation and enter the field in a relatively short period of time.

Students can complete these programs in two years or less while developing pharmaceutical inventory, calculations, and communication skills.

Prospective students may encounter several types of pharmacy technician training, including certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs.

A pharmacy technician associate degree is typically the most involved of these options, featuring more general and medical foundation courses. For learners who may wish to continue their studies in the future, associate degrees can help ease the transition.

Most schools award an associate of applied science degree in pharmacy technician or pharmacy technology. These career-focused programs usually include extensive practical training, including simulated lab work, internships, and work placements.

Depending on their state, pharmacy technician associate programs may qualify graduates for postgraduate certification, such as from the National Healthcareer Association. These programs may also hold accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

This course teaches students about drugs and their effects on the human body. Learners study basic disease states. They also examine how drugs treat disease and how they interact with each other.

In this course, students learn how to prepare and dispense prescription medication safely and legally. They also learn how to compound medication and how to complete dosage forms.

Students in this course learn how to make calculations for medication dispensing and dosing purposes. They look at ratios, proportions, and percentages, along with dilutions and concentrations.

This course explores human anatomy and physiology. Students familiarize themselves with the systems and organs, the functions, and the terminology.

In this course, students learn about the types of pharmacies and the administrative and management tasks involved in operating them. They look at inventory control, pricing, and operational rules and regulations.

The BLS projects 4% job growth for pharmacy technicians between 2020 and 2030, lower than the overall growth rate for all U.S. occupations. Yet, professional opportunities still remain, particularly for those with a pharmacy technician associate degree.

Degree-holders enter the field with more training and more practical experience than most other avenues, giving them an advantage over their competition.

In addition to the BLS projected addition of over 16,000 new jobs between 2020 and 2030, more than 31,000 jobs are projected to open annually to cover industry turnover.

Graduates with an associate degree may decide to pursue careers, training, and credentials in the medical field, such as medical assistant.

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in filling prescriptions and dispensing medications. They also work with customers, take care of packaging and labeling, and help manage inventories. Technicians may need certification in some states for which a pharmacy technician associate degree should qualify.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020): $35,100

Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative duties in healthcare clinics, offices, and hospitals. They may also help doctors with examinations and check patient information and vitals. Employers may require medical assistants to possess certification for employment.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020): $35,850

Medical transcriptionists turn audio recordings from healthcare professionals into written records. They translate abbreviations and fix errors in records to create accurate, sortable, and searchable records for the computerized filing system. Employers may require transcriptionists to possess certification.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020): $35,270

Phlebotomists draw blood from patients for donations and medical and research purposes. They work with medical equipment and patient records while keeping their instruments and workstations clean and sanitary. Phlebotomists usually need professional certification for employment.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020): $36,320

Clinical laboratory technicians collect and run tests on fluids and substances for research, patient data, and medical procedures. They work with lab equipment and technologies and medical records. States and employers may require that clinical laboratory technicians hold certification and licensure.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020): $54,180

After completing an online pharmacy technician associate degree, graduates can continue their training in several directions.

They may build on their healthcare foundations with a bachelor’s degree in a medical discipline, such as a bachelor’s in medical billing and coding, a bachelor’s in healthcare management, or a bachelor’s in healthcare administration.

Bachelor’s degrees can lead to more diverse career opportunities or graduate degrees in the field.

Pharmacy technicians can also pursue certification with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association. Another option includes a medical certificate, such as a certificate in medical billing and coding or a certificate in medical office administration.

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