Educational Requirements

Though regulations and requirements vary by state and even by employer, there is still a good amount of education a pharmacy technician needs to have in order to work in a pharmacy.

At a minimum for every state, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Previously, technicians in places like retail pharmacies could earn on the job training. However, more and more employers are seeking candidates who have completed a formal pharmacy technician training program. And students, like ANU’s own Evanne Rakers, have found that earning her education at ANU was far better for her understanding than working in a busy pharmacy. “Working with on-the-job training, it was so busy that they didn’t stop to take the time to personally train you how to do things or show you how to do things… I think it’s a lot better to go through the courses so that you can learn at your own pace. When you go into the pharmacy world, you learn stuff, but you don’t get a thorough learning of everything… I think going into a pharmacy after having the training is a lot better than being thrown into the mix.”

American National University’s pharmacy technician programs are programmatically accredited by the Pharmacy Technician Accrediting Commission (PTAC). Students learn to use PioneerRx, the software used in pharmacies across the country to prepare them for their career. Additionally, students get sent lab kits to do at home under the careful instruction of our professors, like Telicia Ward-Thomas, who just was awarded a 2024 Golden Goggles Student Champion of the Year by Science Interactive for her commitment to her students learning and understanding. Additionally, students must participate in two 120-hour externships, for a total of 240 hours, to gain hands-on experience at a pharmacy local to them. Our associate degree program is designed to make competent, skilled, and capable pharmacy technicians.

While education is not required of a pharmacy technician in all states, it is quickly becoming the norm for many employers.

Certification and Licensure

The certification and licensure requirements for pharmacy technicians are essential to ensuring quality standards in the field. Although requirements differ by state, certification is widely recognized as a mark of competence, enhancing job prospects and sometimes even necessary for employment. Certification often starts with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). To be eligible, candidates generally need to complete a PTCB-recognized education program or equivalent work experience. Passing the PTCE demonstrates proficiency in core areas such as pharmacy law, medication safety, and inventory management, which are integral to the pharmacy technician’s role. According to the PTCB, certification needs to be renewed every two years, requiring certified technicians to meet continuing education requirements to stay current with industry standards​.

Licensure, distinct from certification, varies by state and may involve passing a state-specific exam. Many states require pharmacy technicians to register with the state’s board of pharmacy, a process that may include background checks and proof of training or certification. Accredited programs, such as those approved by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), are often favored by employers, as these programs meet high industry standards and prepare students for both certification exams and state licensure​, like ANU’s programs are. By the end of our programs, diploma or associate degree, students will take the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as part of our Pharmacy Tech Exam Success class.

These certifications and licensure standards help create a consistent level of expertise, which is crucial in a field where precision and safety are paramount. And as the largest generation, the boomer generation, continues to age and need more medical attention, pharmacy technicians being trained and licensed/certified is more important than ever.

The pathway to becoming a pharmacy technician involves meeting essential requirements, from completing foundational education to obtaining certification and licensure. These steps ensure that pharmacy technicians possess the knowledge and skills needed to perform their duties safely and effectively. For those asking, ‘what are the requirements to be a pharmacy technician?’, it’s clear that each stage plays a vital role in preparing for a successful and rewarding career in healthcare. ANU’s programs help prepare you for being in a pharmacy, give you the opportunity to get hands-on training both at home and within a real pharmacy, and prepares you to sit for the CPhT exam so that you can flourish in your future career. To learn more about ANU’s programs, go to virginia.an.edu.

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Hospital Pharmacy Technician

Hospital pharmacy technicians are essential members of the healthcare team, working alongside pharmacists to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of medications to patients within the hospital environment. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks aimed at supporting medication management and patient care. These include, but are not limited to, inventory management, emergency response, medication reconciliation, and patient-specific preparation. With their expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to patient well-being, hospital pharmacy technicians play an indispensable role in the healthcare team.

Clinical Pharmacy Technician

Clinical pharmacy technicians work closely with pharmacists in specialized clinical settings, such as hospitals, specialty clinics, or outpatient care centers. Their role extends beyond traditional dispensing tasks to encompass various clinical responsibilities aimed at optimizing medication therapy and patient outcomes. A lot of the tasks they focus on include medication therapy management, patient assessment and monitoring, collaborative disciplinary care, and quality improvement initiatives. With their clinical expertise, professionalism, and dedication to patient well-being, clinical pharmacy technicians make valuable contributions to the healthcare team and positively impact patient outcomes.

Research Technician

Pharmacy technicians play integral roles in pharmaceutical research and development, supporting various aspects of the drug discovery, development, and clinical trial process. Working in research settings such as pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, or research organizations, research pharmacy technicians contribute to advancing scientific knowledge and improving patient care through their specialized expertise and technical skills. They perform laboratory support, drug formulation and preparation, clinical trial support, and data collection and analysis among many other responsibilities within a research function. With their technical expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to research excellence, research pharmacy technicians contribute to improving patient care and advancing the field of pharmaceutical science.

Long Term Care Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in supporting medication management services for residents in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, and hospice care settings. Working under the supervision of pharmacists, long-term care pharmacy technicians contribute to ensuring the safe, accurate, and timely delivery of medications to residents while adhering to regulatory requirements and promoting resident well-being. They are responsible for many things, for example: medication dispensing and distribution, regulatory compliance, resident education and support, and reconciliation and review of patient medication. With their dedication to patient care and adherence to professional standards, long-term care pharmacy technicians make valuable contributions to the quality of care provided in long-term care settings.

Government and Regulatory Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians play essential roles in government agencies and regulatory bodies involved in drug regulation, public health, and research. Working in diverse settings such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), state health departments, and other regulatory agencies, government and regulatory pharmacy technicians contribute to safeguarding public health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and promoting pharmaceutical safety and efficacy. They can have a number of things they work on regularly, like regulatory compliance, drug approval and evaluation, and public education and outreach.  With their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to regulatory excellence, government and regulatory pharmacy technicians uphold the highest standards of pharmaceutical regulation and contribute to the protection and promotion of public health.

Pharmacy Technician Education at ANU

For many of these roles, not only do technicians need to have certification, but many also require education as well. With American National University’s Pharmacy Technician associate degree program, you can earn your degree to better your chances of making a break from retail pharmacy work. You’ll have two 120-hour externships (for a total of 240 hours) to gain experience within the field. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the job with our at-home lab kits and access to the real life pharmacy technology of PioneerRx – all included in the cost of your tuition. Not only that, but ANU will cover the cost of your background check so that you can get started in your future career without worry of extra costs. To find out more about our pharmacy technician degree program, go to virginia.an.edu.

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Laquae mentioned trouble finding a job in his career during the pandemic as the reason he began the pharmacy technician diploma program. And he returned to ANU because of the way we structured our curriculum.

“I love the school, I love the way the curriculum is set up, and I feel as if I went somewhere else, I probably wouldn’t put in as much effort,” Laquae reflects.

With his busy schedule, working two jobs while in school, scheduling flexibility is important. He explains, “if there’s something that I can’t do or if a particular Zoom course isn’t going to work that day, it can be changed to where it can better suit me. And I really, really enjoy that, because it helps.”

When it comes to his classes, Laquae enjoyed utilizing his lab kits in class. He describes all of the materials he received in them – from goggles, gloves, a scale, to even a lab coat. “I think that those courses where I’m going to be able to dive into that kit, I think that’s really, really going to prepare me in being a pharmacy tech,” he says. Laquae goes on to say that the small number of students in his courses has helped him focus as well.  In speaking about one of his classes where he utilizes his lab kit, “I think, in that course, there was maybe six of us in there. So it was really easy to dive in and be quick to ask questions… and help each other out.”

During his first time at ANU, Laquae fondly recalls a professor, Michel Awad, that he had that helped him through tough times. He attended during the thick of Covid, and like many others around the world, the pandemic took its toll on him. However, Michel was a beam of light that understood and worked with him throughout his course. “I can honestly say it’s just the rapport that can be built with the instructors at ANU – I really don’t think I would get that anywhere else,” he explains. Even in his time now, Laquae finds that speaking with his instructors and professors is not only easy but helps him better his education and experience.

Overall, of his entire time at ANU, Laquae has enjoyed the curriculum. He explains that it’s easy to navigate things like Canvas and his courses, everything is accessible, and everyone he speaks to is helpful.

“If there’s something I don’t understand or don’t get or find difficult to understand – I have the instructors right there, classmates right there. Everything is just at your fingertips.”

For his future goals, Laquae wants to move back home to Tennessee and wants to work in a pharmacy – working his way up from pharmacy technician. “I really want to see where this is going to take me… deep down in my gut, I feel like this is going to be it – this is my foundation,” he says of his program, “this is where I belong.” He hopes to go for pharmacy school in the future now that he is secure that pharmacy is the career he wants to be in.

“I would definitely refer ANU to anyone willing to further their education in whatever they’re looking to do,” he says. “Give ANU a try… you will not be disappointed because the help is there. The instructors are great, the financial advisors will walk you through everything. If there’s something you don’t understand… they will give you the resources you need for financial aid.”

His advice to those who start at ANU: “Ask questions – don’t be afraid. Don’t let your age in life hold you back. Go for it… The help is there, the instructors are great, you will be able to interact with people who are possibly going through the same things you are in life.”

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