Pharmacy Technician
About
Pharmacy technicians assist and support licensed pharmacists to prepare prescription medications, provide customer service and perform administrative duties within a pharmacy setting. Pharmacy settings can include retail, clinics, long-term care, hospitals, and specialized compounding pharmacies.
The Pharmacy Technician program includes courses in pharmacy calculation, pharmacy law, and hands-on experience in a lab that mirrors industry settings.
Clark's Pharmacy Tech Certificate has been rated as the best in the nation in Washington Monthly's college rankings.
Degrees and Certificates
Program Maps
Request Information
Information Request Form
Attention Students:
Please note that enrollment in the Pharmacy Technician program is on hiatus, but will
begin again in Fall 2021.
Now is a good time to take any preparatory coursework you need to enter the program.
Contact our Welcome Center at start@clark.edu to learn more.
Information Sessions
Attend one of these free, online information sessions to meet with faculty, learn about the program and entry requirements, and get your questions answered. Information sessions are held via Zoom.
- Monday, February 1, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Log into Zoom meeting - Monday, February 8, 2021 at noon
Log into Zoom meeting
If you have a disability and need accommodations to attend a session, please reach out to our Disability Support Services as soon as possible.
Hands-on Experience in the Pharmacy
As health care becomes more technically complex, the need for individuals with dynamic thinking and problem-solving skills is important. Whether in a pharmacy, clinic, or hospital, pharmacy technicians use their skills to ensure patients receive the proper assistance and medication. In recent years, an increase in degreed pharmacy technicians has allowed medical providers to increase the quality of services provided and decrease medication errors.
Pharmacy Technicians have a keen sense for detail and work well in a fast-paced environment. Students in Clark’s program learn in a mock Pharmacy lab setting to gain hands-on experience in a controlled environment. From there, students progress to two quarters of externship experience in local Portland/Vancouver pharmacies.
Clark College offers a Certificate of Proficiency and expanded Pharmacy Technology curriculum leading to an Associate in Applied Technology (AAT) degree in Pharmacy Technician Leadership.
Courses offered for the AAT in Pharmacy Technology focus on developing skill in leadership, business relations, and professional development. With these additional skills aspiring pharmacy technology students gain a significant advantage in securing entry-level positions as well as advancing their career.
For both Washington and Oregon, national certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is required to obtain a license and work as a pharmacy technician. As of 2020, in order to sit for the PTCE, a candidate must complete a program approved by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Clark College’s Pharmacy Technician Program is approved by the PTCB.
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities for Pharmacy Technicians exist in a variety of medical environments. The U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics forecast Pharmacy Technician jobs growing at a rate of 4% between 2019 and 2029, with a current median wage in the Portland-Vancouver metro area estimated at $20.65 per hour.
