PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

(PHT)

Start Date

October 30, 2023

More Start Dates
Length
The program length for day and evening classes may vary based on the number of scheduled hours per week. Holidays, school closings, and internship schedules may cause the program completion dates to vary as well.

9 Months

Schedule
The standard classroom schedule is provided here. The clinical internship schedule will vary based on the clinical site. Students must follow their assigned internship schedule, not the AIMS Education class schedule, academic calendar, or the observed holidays and breaks.

Monday - Friday
5:30pm to 9:30pm

FSA
Federal student aid is available for those who qualify. Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine their eligibility. Please contact our financial aid department to learn more.

YES

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

YES

Start Date

October 30, 2023

More Start Dates
Length
The program length for day and evening classes may vary based on the number of scheduled hours per week. Holidays, school closings, and internship schedules may cause the program completion dates to vary as well.

9 Months

Schedule
The standard classroom schedule is provided here. The clinical internship schedule will vary based on the clinical site. Students must follow their assigned internship schedule, not the AIMS Education class schedule, academic calendar, or the observed holidays and breaks.

Monday - Friday
5:30pm to 9:30pm

FSA
Federal student aid is available for those who qualify. Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine their eligibility. Please contact our financial aid department to learn more.

YES

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

YES

Pharmacy Technician Training

Hybrid / Distance Education Program

The Pharmacy Technician certificate program is a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program. It will prepare students to become skilled, entry-level pharmacy techs. In addition to industry leading training, students will receive practical, hands-on experience. The training program will instruct students in a number of areas including medical terminology, proper drug administration, drug classifications, and pharmacy management.

Pharmacy technicians are multi-faceted members of the pharmacy team. They work closely with a licensed pharmacist and other pharmacy staff. Some of their daily job responsibilities may include assisting customers over the phone or in person, handling prescriptions, compounding, preparing medications for dispersal, and performing a variety of other administrative tasks.

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

Hybrid Learning

The Pharmacy Technician program is taught using a hybrid learning environment. All hybrid courses will utilize online and in-person instruction. Lectures may be offered on campus or remotely via a Learning Management System (LMS). Laboratory classes and practical training will be held on campus or 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 200-hour clinical internship. 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. Students are not permitted to begin the internship until all required classroom and lab hours are completed.

AIMS Education has clinical affiliations with numerous healthcare facilities throughout New Jersey and the surrounding areas. 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.

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

  • 650 clock hours
  • Classroom instruction and lab - 450 hours
  • Clinical internship - 200 hours
  • The Pharmacy Technician program can be completed in approximately 9 months.

Employment Opportunities

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

Minimum Admission Requirements

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
TBD
Monday - Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
9 months
Evening Classes
October 30, 2023
Monday - Friday
5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
9 months

Additional information regarding the class schedule, program length, 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 Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA-CESS) and 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.