Introduction

The Pharmacy Technician Training Program at the VCU School of Pharmacy will teach you the skills needed to work confidently alongside pharmacists in various pharmacy settings. As a pharmacy technician, you'll work in places such as community, hospital, mail order, infusion and long-term care pharmacies.

The demand for pharmacy technicians is growing as the role of pharmacists expands to include more direct patient care. Pharmacy technicians need broad knowledge and skills in preparing and dispensing prescriptions, managing medication inventory, processing insurance claims and more. Graduates from our program will be valuable members of the health care team, supporting pharmacists in providing safe and effective medication therapy.

This entry-level pharmacy technician training program includes 400 hours of online instructional coursework, in-person and virtual simulations and experiential rotations.

By using innovative instructional strategies and hands-on training, our learners will be prepared to become an integral part of the pharmacy profession as pharmacy technicians and become assets to the practice of pharmacy.

Our well-trained pharmacy technicians will be career-ready game changers who possess skills that will contribute to the safe and effective use of medications resulting in enhanced health care in our communities.

a pharmacist checks the price of a medication in a computer

What do pharmacy techs do?

Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals. From filling prescriptions to preparing medications, such as chemotherapy treatments, pharmacy technicians play a critical role in the health of patients. Pharmacy technicians often work in pharmacies and hospitals.

person in lab coat works with a solution in a sterile compounding lab

What sets our program apart?

In addition to training pharmacy technicians for all settings, what makes our program distinct from others is the unique hands-on experience students can get based on our expertise in compounding from our Center for Compounding Practice and Research. This will prepare individuals well for being a pharmacy technician in a hospital setting.

Program Overview

The purpose of the VCU School of Pharmacy's Pharmacy Technician Training Program is to equip aspiring pharmacy technicians with the knowledge and skills necessary for competence and confidence in their roles. At the end of this training program, pharmacy technician trainees will be well-prepared to test for their national certification exam marking a significant milestone in their professional journey.

Cost

Program Fee: $2,500

  • Includes access to our online learning management system (LMS), ASHP PharmTech Ready didactic curriculum along with videos, virtual simulations, in-person simulations, assessments, and readings   
  • Ongoing guidance from the staff and availability to answer questions during the program
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Voucher: included in the cost of the program upon successful completion of program within the 6-to-9-month program scheduled timeline (or in the timeframe agreed upon by the learner and course director). Failure to meet these requirements may render the learner ineligible for an exam voucher. If you require a modification to the 6-to-9-month program timeline, please email the program director prior to your course start date.

There are no refunds available for the Pharmacy Technician Training Program.

Payment Options:

  • Payment in full upon acceptance into the program
  • Pay $1,250 upon acceptance into the program and $1,250 prior to first scheduled simulation (approximately 4-6 weeks into the program)
  • Employer sponsored – The employer pays upfront for the student to enroll into the program while employed for employer

Admissions requirements

By the date of enrollment, those interested in enrolling in this program must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have an unofficial or official High School Diploma or GED certificate
  • Complete our math and reading assessments successfully prior to acceptance into the program
  • Possess English language proficiency (reading, writing and speaking)
  • Possess basic computer skills and have access to high-speed internet
  • Successfully complete criminal background screening, drug screening and vaccination documentation
    • For pharmacy technician licensure in Virginia, candidates must not have had a history of drug-related crimes
  • Successfully complete a drug screening
  • Be eligible for registration as a pharmacy technician trainee per the Virginia Board of Pharmacy regulations (cost: $20)

This program adheres to VCU's general policy governing admission and enrollment, including its nondiscrimination statement.

How to apply

Complete the following:

  1. Application [PDF]
    • Professional resume
    • A personal statement (250-300 words) describing your interest and goals for completing this entry-level pharmacy technician training program
  2. Read the Technical and Behavioral Standards, and sign and scan this Technical Standards Acknowledgement [PDF]
  3. Submit your application materials (application, resume, personal statement and technical standards acknowledgement) to pharmacytech@vcu.edu with the subject line "Pharmacy Technician Training Program application"

Important dates

Application deadline: Sept. 20

Program start date: Sept. 30

Program end date: February 2025

Program details

Entry-level pharmacy technician training program (Total 400 hours of coursework to include lectures, simulations and experiential hours)

  • 6-to-9 month part-time program
    • 160 hours self-paced online learning
    • 80 hours of scheduled live and virtual simulations
    • 160 hours of experiential (on-the-job) training

Class size: 10 learners per class

Accreditation

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy Pharmacy Technician Training program is an Entry-Level pharmacy technician training program.

As mandated by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, prospective pharmacy technician candidates in Virginia must complete an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited course. Our program, in precandidate status for accreditation by ASHP, meticulously follows the curriculum requirements mandated by ASHP/ACPE.

Upon successful program completion, participants will receive a certificate of completion, becoming eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam — a prerequisite for licensure.

6%

Projected growth for pharmacy tech jobs through 2032 in the U.S., twice as fast as average for all occupations

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

45,000

Projected job openings for pharmacy techs per year over the next decade

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

$15.47-23.26 per hour

Median pay range for a pharmacy tech in Virginia

(Salary.com)

Contact Us

Email: pharmacytech@vcu.edu

Fill out this form to request information

Employers seeking to sponsor training for employees: Please contact Barbara Exum.

Program Administrators