Pharmacy Assistant Certificate and Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Here is a general overview of what your classes will look like following each quarter. This information may change. Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses. To see which materials are needed for your courses, click this bookstore link (Links to an external site.) and enter the course information.
You also may be interested in the AAS and AAS-T Transfer Degree options.
General Overview
As of Spring 2025 we are no longer accepting new students into the Pharmacy Assistant Certificate and Pharmacy Technician Certificate program.
How long is the program?
- 1 quarter (3 months) for the Pharmacy Assistant certificate with 18 credits
- 5 quarters (14 to 15 months) for the Pharmacy Technician certificate with 80 credits
When do classes meet? Online and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Are summer classes required? Yes, for Pharmacy Technician
You will develop skills in all areas of pharmacy practice: order entry, pharmaceutical calculations, record keeping, mixing intravenous solutions, and compounding of products to be dispensed. Special emphasis is on product knowledge and learning detailed information regarding drugs. You will complete externships in retail and hospital pharmacies.
This program is recognized by the WA Department of Health and the Washington pharmacy board. You will need to pass the PTCB national certification exam Links to an external site. and apply for a state license Links to an external site. to work as a pharmacy assistant or pharmacy technician in Washington.
What do pharmacy assistants and technicians do?
What is the average salary?
$36,660 annually
Links to an external site. for pharmacy assistants or aides in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most pharmacy assistants in King County earn at least $33,940.
$50,390 annually
Links to an external site. for pharmacy technicians in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most pharmacy technicians in King County earn at least $37,270.
Who can I contact with questions?
- New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
- For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Pharmacy Technician.
Overall Materials Needed:
- Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers in the RTC Library or Learning Resource Center)
- USB drive (thumb drive)
- Webcam
- Headset with microphone
- Working Internet Connection
- CastleBranch account Links to an external site.($106)
- Personal health insurance
- General liability and malpractice insurance ($14.62)
- Physical evaluation by physician or nurse practitioner
- Textbooks and software: $365
Minimum GPA or grades to graduate
You need to earn a 2.0 in each class to complete your Pharmacy Assistant or Pharmacy Technician certificate.
Materials Warning
Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!
Financial Aid Eligibility Warning
The Pharmacy Assistant certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid because it is only 1 quarter. Please talk to your adviser about different ways to pay for tuition.
Quarter 1 Classes
Description: You will begin to learn the uses and warnings for 200 commonly prescribed drugs and earn your first aid and CPR certification. You start learning human anatomy, and you practice calculating dosages and filling prescriptions.
It's time to apply for your Pharmacy Assistant certificate! This quarter you will receive the Pharmacy Assistant Certificate.
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL 101 | College Success | NO | 2 |
| PHAR 101 | Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals and Ethics | NO | 4 |
| PHAR 103 | Top 200 Drugs I | YES | 3 |
| PHAR 105 | Outpatient Pharmacy Preparations & Record-Keeping I | YES | 5 |
| PHAR 130 | Medical Term/Anatomy & Physiology for Pharm Techs I | NO | 3 |
| PHAR 189 | Pharmacy Pre-Externship | NO | 1 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,200 |
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The application fee for a Pharmacy Assistant license is $70 at this time.
Pharmacy Assistant Certificate Estimated Cost: $2,649
Quarter 2 Classes
Description: You will learn the uses, effects, and side effects of the major classes of drugs while improving your skills to compound, count, package, stock, and label medications using proper equipment and techniques. You also learn important laws related to pharmacies.
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHAR 106 | Outpatient Pharmacy Preparations & Record-Keeping II | NO | 4 |
| PHAR 108 | Inpatient & Home Healthcare Phar Prep & Record | NO | 8 |
| PHAR 110 | Pharmacology I | YES | 5 |
| PHAR 131 | Pharmacy Law and References I | NO | 1 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,180 | |||
Quarter 3 Classes
Description: You continue your study of pharmacology (effects and side effects of drugs) and learn the anatomy of the rest of the human body. You also practice professional teamwork and communication.
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHAR 104 | Pharmacology II | NO | 5 |
| PHAR 136 | Medical Term/Anatomy & Physiology for Pharm Techs II | NO | 3 |
| PHAR 137 | Pharmacy Law and References II | NO | 2 |
| PHAR 180 | Leadership, Human Relations, and Customer Services | NO | 5 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,931 |
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Quarter 4 Classes
Description: You learn advanced preparation techniques to mix chemotherapy products and continue your study of the top 200 most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. You will practice accurate computer skills with the goal of typing 35 words per minute.
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHAR 107 | IV Admixture Advanced Techniques | YES | 3 |
| PHAR 109 | Top 200 Drugs II | YES | 3 |
| PHAR 134 | Business Office Machines | NO | 6 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,667 |
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Quarter 5 Classes
Description: Work for five weeks in a retail pharmacy and then five weeks in a hospital or other pharmacy that uses intravenous admixture training. You will learn job search skills and develop your resume for pharmacy technician jobs.
It's time to apply for your Pharmacy Technician certificate! This quarter you will receive the Pharmacy Technician Certificate.
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHAR 190 | Pharmacy Practice Internship I | TBD | 8 |
| PHAR 191 | Pharmacy Practice Internship II | TBD | 9 |
| Tuition Estimated Total: $2,287 |
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The PTCB exam fee for Certified Pharmacy Technician is $129.
The fee for the state Pharmacy Technician license is $140.
Pharmacy Technician Certificate Estimated Cost: $11,012 plus the cost of personal health insurance
Not quite the path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!