Pharmacy Technician Certificate

It’s time for a healthy dose of success

A career as a Pharmacy Technician has great implications for your future, with recent estimates provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicating that the need for qualified Pharmacy Technicians will grow by 20 percent in the next seven years. This program will immerse you into the ever-evolving field of health care and prescription management so you can take full advantage of this in-demand profession.

The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program at CSUB will fully prepare you for this dynamic and in-demand career, giving you the skills and hands-on training necessary for continued success.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board approved

The Pharmacy Technician program at CSUB is certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Students that complete the program at CSUB meet the education/training requirement to apply for their PTCB CPhT credential. For more information about this certification, visit the PTCB website.

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At A Glance

24 CEUs

$6,000 (3 courses)

In-person

Spring 2025: January 14, 2025

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Meet one of the following requirements:
- High school diploma
- General Education Development (GED) Certificate
A basic skills math test is a required part of the application. This test is taken in the Extended Education and Global Outreach office and should take roughly 30-minutes. Applicants are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the program coordinator and submit their complete application packet when present to take the exam.

Program Outline and Requirements

The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program comprises three courses, which are offered consecutively. To progress through the program, each course must be passed with a “C” or better. As part of the third class, students will take part in externships. CSU Bakersfield partners with pharmacies to test students’ knowledge and to prepare them for work as Pharmacy Technicians.

This course serves as the introductory phase of the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program. During the course, the student will be introduced to the expanding role of the pharmacy technician and the profession of pharmacy in general. The various pharmacy practice settings, and pharmacy professional organizations that offer technician membership. The student will learn pharmacy and medical terminology and information about the top 200 selling prescription drugs (brand name, generic name, drug classification, and indication for use). The laws pertaining to the pharmacy profession, the technician’s duties and responsibilities, and laws governing the handling and dispensing of controlled substances. Basic pharmaceutical calculations and conversions, and the handling, preparation and distribution of a variety of dosage forms will be addressed. The student will also be instructed on the concepts surrounding insurance plans, billing, and reconciliation as they relate to the practice of pharmacy. Finally, the student will receive introductory level instruction on the pharmacology of many of the medications they will be handling on a daily basis.

This course serves as the second phase of the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program. This course provides a more in-depth look into the profession of pharmacy and the technician's role. The student will receive more advanced instruction on pharmaceutical calculations and review those introduced in Introduction to Pharmacy Technician. The student will receive addition instruction on pharmacology, focusing on a new set of drug classes and disease states. The student will also be introduced to compounding (sterile and non-sterile) and receive training on how to perform some of the duties required to work in that particular setting. The student will learn about medication errors, the financial impact they have on the health care delivery system, and - most importantly - receive instruction on how to prevent medication errors. The student will learn about the non-dispensing duties of the pharmacy technician. Finally, the student will receive instruction on HIPAA and how it affects the profession of pharmacy. In addition to the coursework detailed above, the student will receive assistance with job seeking skills (resume’ writing, interviewing) and will begin preparations to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCB). Prerequisite: PHTX 8010.

Tuition and Fees

The following are estimated costs for the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program.

Typical costs are as follows:

$1,500PHTX 8010 - Introduction to Pharmacy Technician (8 CEUs)

$1,500PHTX 8020 - Introduction to Pharmacology and Advanced Pharmacy Calculations (8 CEUs)

$3,000PHTX 8030 - Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Preparation (8 CEUs)

Approximate Total Cost of Program:$6,000

*The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, the CSU must reserve the right, even after fees are initially charged or initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide fees, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by The Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, or the Presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide fees will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 -66028.6 of the Education Code).

Payment Options

There are two payment options for your convenience:

Pay the full course fee amount at the time of registration.
Sign up for the Tuition Payment Plan, which allows you to spread the cost of your classes over a longer period of time.

Spring 2025 dates are as follows:

Initial payment Before 1/31/25
2nd payment Before 2/28/25
3rd payment Before 3/28/25
4th payment Before 4/21/25
Final Payment Before 5/12/25

Note: Program is not eligible for FAFSA-based financial aid.

Tuition Deferment Plan

How to Apply

The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program at CSU Bakersfield requires the following:

Complete Application

Proof of High School Completion

Application Fee

Apply Now

Provide proof of completion with one of the following documents:

High school transcripts with graduation posted
High school diploma
Proof of GED completion

Application Deadlines

We offer start dates for two terms throughout the year. Please see the deadlines below for each term.

Fall Semester

Feb10Applications Open

Aug01Regular Deadline

Aug15Document Submission Deadline

Spring Semester

Sep10Applications Open

Jan14Regular Deadline

Jan17Document Submission Deadline