Start Date

April 8, 2024

More Start Dates
Length

5 Months

Class Schedule
Students will be required to attend online classes 15 hours per week and on-site clinical hours an additional 14 hours per week. The clinical internship schedule will vary based on the clinical site.

Monday - Wednesday
9:00am to 2:00pm

Financial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program (scholarships, training grants, payment plans, etc.). Please contact our financial aid department to learn more.

YES

Method of Delivery
All academic courses are taught fully online. The clinical internship will take place at a clinical site.

Online Classes +
Clinical Internship

Start Date

April 8, 2024

More Start Dates
Length

5 Months

Class Schedule
Students will be required to attend online classes 15 hours per week and on-site clinical hours an additional 14 hours per week. The clinical internship schedule will vary based on the clinical site.

Monday - Wednesday
9:00am to 2:00pm

Financial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program (scholarships, training grants, payment plans, etc.). Please contact our financial aid department to learn more.

YES

Method of Delivery
All academic courses are taught fully online. The clinical internship will take place at a clinical site.

Online Classes +
Clinical Internship

Pharmacy Technician Training

Hybrid / Distance Education Program

The Pharmacy Technician (PhT) program is a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program. The program will provide students with the basic competencies needed for employment as a pharmacy technician in retail and hospital settings. Pharmacy Technician courses are taught fully online, and a clinical internship will be completed at an assigned clinical site. 

Graduates will be capable of accurately deciphering prescriptions, calculating dosages, compounding patient compliant medication routes of administration, recognizing medication classifications, recognizing trade and generic names, performing inventory control, keeping accurate records and maintaining compliance guidelines. Graduates will demonstrate behaviors consistent with professional standards and will meet employer expectations for an entry-level position.

The Pharmacy Technician program at AIMS is also a PTCB-recognized sterile compounding program.

Introduction to the Pharmacy Technician Program


Hybrid Learning

The Pharmacy Technician program is taught using a hybrid learning environment. All academic courses will be taught fully online via a Learning Management System (LMS). Practical training will take place at a clinical site.

Online classes will be taught synchronously. Synchronous instruction is real-time instruction that requires students to attend classes at scheduled times.

Clinical Internship

The Pharmacy Technician program requires students to complete a mandatory 225-hour clinical internship course. Students will be placed at a clinical site by the AIMS Internship Department. The internship is designed to provide practical training in a real work environment; students will have a mentor who trains and guides them.

AIMS Education has clinical affiliations with numerous healthcare systems and private facilities. Students will be placed at one or more of these clinical sites and must complete their clinical hours based on the schedule provided by the school. Internship schedules are based on the availability of clinical sites. All students (Day and Evening) must be prepared to complete their internship during normal business hours (Monday through Friday). The majority of clinical sites do not allow students to complete clinical hours in the evening or on the weekend. Clinical hours for the Pharmacy Technician program are typically scheduled on Thursday and Friday.

Prior to enrolling, out-of-state students must confirm the availability of a clinical site in their home or neighboring state.

Employment for Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy technicians play an essential role in ensuring patients receive effective, safe medication therapy. As critical members of the health care team, pharmacy technicians work closely with health care professionals and pharmacists in diverse settings.

Where Can a Pharmacy Technician Work?

Pharmacy technicians are employed in both local pharmacies, including those found in grocery, general merchandise, and drug stores, and hospitals. While many pharmacy technicians work part-time, most work full-time. 

Job opportunities for pharmacy technicians may also be found with online pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, nursing homes, and insurance companies. Job growth is expected to increase over the next ten years, so job prospects are very good for qualified technicians.

Pharmacy Technician Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians support the pharmacy's patient care efforts with continually evolving responsibilities. Pharmacy technicians generally perform the following duties:

  • Assist pharmacists in dispensing prescription medication to health professionals or customers.
  • Work directly with patients to obtain reconciliation and medical histories.
  • Arrange for customers to speak with pharmacists if they have questions about health matters or medications.
  • Answer phone calls from customers and organize inventory.
  • Enter patient or customer information into a computer system, including any prescriptions taken.
  • Process insurance claims and accept payment methods.
  • Alert pharmacists to any shortages of supplies or medications.
  • Package and label prescriptions and measure amounts of medication for prescriptions.
  • Assist in the management of investigational drug studies.
  • Collect information needed to fill a prescription from customers or health professionals.
  • Assist with prior authorization completion and process third-party billing claims.
  • Use technology to maintain accurate orders, medication inventory, and patient records.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Pharmacy Technician Requirements

The path to becoming a pharmacy technician consists of the following steps:

  1. Attain a high school diploma or the equivalent: Successful pharmacy technicians have strong physiology, biology, chemistry, and mathematics backgrounds. At this stage, some students may choose to volunteer at a hospital or in another healthcare setting to get exposure in the field and strengthen their interpersonal skills.
  2. Graduate from a PTCB-recognized pharmacy technician training program: The Pharmacy Technician certificate program from AIMS Education will prepare students to become entry-level pharmacy techs with a myriad of skills. AIMS Education has clinical affiliations with numerous health care facilities throughout New Jersey and the surrounding areas.
  3. Get certified by national certification bodies: Many employers prefer to hire PTCB certified pharmacy technicians, but only some require certification.
  4. Maintain active certification every two years: As a pharmacy technician, you must renew your certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) every two years. 

Pharmacy Technician License vs. Certification 

Pharmacy technician certification is quite different from a pharmacy technician license. Certification involves showing your skills and expertise by passing a non-government agency exam, while licensure or registration is about becoming a pharmacy technician by fulfilling state requirements.

The requirements for pharmacy technician licensure will vary from one state to another. Some states will allow technicians to work in a pharmacy without a license, while others will mandate licensure or registration. Pharmacy technicians in New Jersey are required to register with the NJ State Board of Pharmacy.

Certification / Registry Exam Eligibility

Pharmacy technician graduates are eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Graduates who pass the exam will earn the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential.

Eligibility requirements for the CPhT credential are solely determined by PTCB, and are subject to change at any time. PTCB is an independent organization. AIMS does not guarantee certification/registry exam eligibility.

Pharmacy technicians in New Jersey are required to register with the State Board of Pharmacy.

Program Length

The Pharmacy Technician program is a non-term program and will be taught using a block schedule. Students will enroll as a cohort and take one course at a time.

  • 5 Months
  • 27 Credit Hours
  • 225 Clinical Hours

Employment Opportunities

  • Hospitals
  • Local Pharmacies
  • Nursing Homes
  • Online Pharmacies
  • Pharmaceutical Companies

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam
  • Additional Requirements - Contact Admissions Department at 908-222-0002, Ext. 553

Professional Licensure Disclosure

AIMS Education has determined that its Pharmacy Technician curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in New Jersey. If you live outside of New Jersey or you are planning to seek employment in another state, please review our professional licensure disclosures for more information.

* New Jersey currently has no state licensure requirements for this profession. However, New Jersey law requires all pharmacy technicians to be registered with the State Board of Pharmacy. Section 13:39-6.6 of the Board of Pharmacy regulations list the requirements. The requirements are not related to education or certification. 

Upcoming Start Dates

Start Dates
Schedule
Program Length
Day Classes
April 8, 2024
Monday - Wednesday
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
5 months
Evening Classes
TBD
Monday - Wednesday
4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
5 months

Additional information regarding the class schedule, internship schedule, and school holidays is available on the academic calendar page.

Employer Testimonials

Accreditations and Approvals

The Pharmacy Technician program is an official PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program for both the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) credentials.

AIMS Education is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Graduate Spotlight

Nelson Uzoho

Nelson Uzoho

After graduating from AIMS, Nelson passed the PTCB exam and became a certified pharmacy technician. He is currently employed as a pharmacy technician in a long-term care pharmacy in Morganville, NJ.

Program Gallery

Visit Our Campus

Take the first step in achieving your career goals by visiting the AIMS campus. During your school visit you'll get to meet one-on-one with an admissions specialist. They'll help you choose the right career path and answer any questions you have. You'll also get the chance to tour the AIMS campus, including all of our classrooms, medical labs, and student facilities.