Pharmacy Technician

Prepare for a Vital Role in Patient Care

Adult Costs

$1,805

Program Length

10 months

Next Start Date

3/9/2026

Enroll by

February 26th

Location

Main Campus

Learn More

Your name

Prescriptions and Precision: Train as a Pharmacy Technician

Launch your healthcare career as a pharmacy technician. Gain hands-on training in hospital, retail, and specialty pharmacy settings. Our program prepares you with real-world skills to make a difference in a high-demand field.

Avg. Salary

$42k

for OTECH Grads

Career Growth

2.20%

by 2032 in Utah

Day in the Life

A pharmacy technician’s day is fast-paced and rewarding, supporting pharmacists in preparing medications, managing inventory, and assisting patients. Whether in retail, hospital, or specialty settings, techs ensure accuracy, safety, and efficiency. They play a vital role in healthcare, combining technical skills with compassionate service.

Career Skills You'll Learn:

Industry History and Overview

Understand the history of pharmacy and learn about various pharmacy settings.

Medication Handling

Learn how to store, prepare, and dispense medications to patients.

Computer Systems

Learn how to use industry systems for prescription entry, billing, and other administrative duties.

Customer Service

Practice interacting with customers, including answering questions and troubleshooting issues.

Safety Procedures

Learn sterilization techniques, aseptic technique, immunizations, and point-of-care testing.

Externship

Complete a 200-hour externship at a pharmacy, applying what you’ve learned in the coursework and lab simulations.

Potential Career Paths

Compounding Pharmacy Technician

Prepare customized medications under the supervision of a pharmacist, such as creams, suspensions, and suppositories.

Pharmacist (with further education)

Dispense medications, provide drug information, and offer guidance on medication use and potential side effects.

OTECH Partners who hire our Pharmacy Technician graduates

Program Overview

The Pharmacy Technician program prepares students to assist pharmacists in retail, hospital, and specialty pharmacy settings. Students will acquire the knowledge necessary to assume responsibilities that include inventory management, ordering, labeling, storing, and distributing medications; working with patient records and billing information; gathering information for pharmacists; and distributing printed materials to patients. Students will learn how to compound medications in a non-sterile and sterile setting. They will also learn how to administer immunizations according to DOPL protocol.

Program Outcomes

  • OTECH Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) Pass Rate: 96%
  • National Average Pass Rate: 70%
  • PTCB Exam Pass Rate: 96%

Program outcomes are based on the 2021-2022 PTCB Pass Rate Summary Report at www.ptcb.org.

Classroom Hours
This is a hybrid program. Complete coursework online and come to the classroom for labs and hands-on skills.

Day: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Eve: M-Th 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Enrollment open to
Adults, High school students

Credit transfer options
Available to view here

Tuition & Cost

Estimated Adult Tuition and Fees
$1,850.00

Estimated Materials Cost
$413.00

Estimated High School Student Cost
$205.00

Financial Aid Eligibility
Scholarship: Yes
VA: Yes
Pell Grant: Yes

Program Materials
MaterialRequiredNew
Cirrus Access Code ISBN 9798765750780$250.00
Embroidered Smock$40.00
Random Drug Screen for Health Programs$58.00
Scrubs (Any Color)$40.00
Subtotal of required materials$388.00
PHMT1260 Pharmacy Simulation and Review
MaterialRequiredNew
CPR Card & Mask$25.00
Subtotal of required materials$25.00
  • The Pharmacy Technician program at OTECH has a reading and math requirement. Please visit this page for more information.
  • Enrolled as a high school senior, or older.
  • Must pass a background check.
  • Obtain a Pharmacy Technician Trainee License from the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

The OTECH Pharmacy Technician program has rolling start dates throughout the year. If you are interested in enrolling in the program, please review the application deadlines and program start dates below to ensure a smooth application process.

3/9/2026
  • Legal aspects of pharmacy practice, including laws and regulations governing practice.
  • Hygiene and aseptic technique.
  • Terminology, abbreviations, and symbols.
  • Pharmaceutical calculations.
  • Identification of drugs by trade and generic names and therapeutic classifications.
  • Filling of orders and prescriptions, including packaging and labeling.
  • Ordering, restocking, and maintaining drug inventory.
  • Computer applications in the pharmacy.
  • Counsel on over-the-counter products per DOPL law. 
  • Sterile compounding and institutional training.
Course Syllabus →
Course NumberCourse NameCreditsCost
PHMT1000 Introduction to Pharmacy1$95
PHMT1010 Pharmacy Law and Ethics1$95
PHMT1015 Pharmacy Calculations2$190
PHMT1030 Body Systems and Medical Conditions2$190
PHMT1150Clinical Pharmacology2$190
PHMT1160 Community Pharmacy Applications2$190
PHMT1245 Institutional Pharmacy Applications2$190
PHMT1250 Pharmacy Workplace Relations1$95
PHMT1260 Pharmacy Simulation and Review2$190
PHMT1510 Pharmacy Technician Externship4$380

Background Check and Drug Testing 

  • All students must complete a background check and a random drug test. 
  • You need a Social Security Number or ITIN to do the background check. 
  • Criminal charges from the last 7 years will show up. In Utah, juvenile records are not sealed.  
  • You must complete hands-on training at a job site to finish the program. A criminal record or positive drug test could prevent that. 
  • If you can’t finish your program because of your background or a positive drug test, no refunds will be given. 
  • If you have a criminal record, talk to the Program Coordinator before you enroll. 

Vaccination Information

  • The program requires hands-on training at a job site.  
  • Job sites may ask students to get the COVID-19 vaccine before placement.  
  • If you have questions, please talk to your Program Coordinator. 
  • After completing the program, you’ll need to pass a nationally recognized pharmacy technician certification exam (PTCE or ExCPT).
  • To apply for licensure, you’ll also need a valid U.S. Social Security Number, a clear background check and fingerprinting screen, and a government-issued ID.
  • A criminal conviction may delay or prevent you from getting licensed. Charges from the last 7 years will show up.
  • Visit dopl.utah.gov/pharmacy for more information.

 

Accreditation Information

ASHP Accredited

 

The Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) as an advanced-level program. Advanced-level programs include additional skills and simulations that prepare students for advanced-level careers and expanding pharmacy technician roles.

 

The Pharmacy Technician program partners with PioneerRX, the top pharmacy management system in the industry. PioneerRX enhances the curriculum with a hands-on approach to learning that simulates the functions and workflow of today’s most innovative pharmacies. For more information, visit PioneerRX.com

 

Program Outcomes

  • OTECH Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) Pass Rate: 96%
  • National Average Pass Rate: 70%
  • PTCB Exam Pass Rate: 96%
  • Program outcomes are based on the 2021-2022 PTCB Pass Rate Summary Report at www.ptcb.org

 

Christina Stephens

Christina Stephens is the Pharmacy Technician Program Coordinator and Instructor at Ogden-Weber Technical College. A 2009 graduate of the Davis Technical College Pharmacy Technician Program, Christina brings a wealth of experience from her years at McKay-Dee Hospital, where she worked until 2018. She holds an Advanced Pharmacy Technician Certification from PTCB and a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University. Since joining Ogden-Weber Technical College in 2018, Christina has been dedicated to student success, stepping into the coordinator role in 2023. Her professional background spans hospital, community, and compounding pharmacy settings, and she remains actively involved in the local pharmacy community.

Office Hours
M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location
Health Tech 125