A Survey of Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Within Schools of Pharmacy

OBJECTIVE: This study examines pharmacy technician training programs offered by schools of pharmacy in the United States. Highlighted are examples of program structure, including hours, funding sources and faculty involvement. METHODS: Two pharmacy technician program databases, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacy/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ASHP/ACPE), were cross-referenced with accredited schools of pharmacy to identify available programs as of Summer 2025. School websites were reviewed to assess faculty teaching involvement and institutional support for the program. Email invitations requested participation in a survey, either electronically or via phone. RESULTS: Fourteen schools of pharmacy were found to meet criteria with nine schools consenting to the survey. Four schools of pharmacy completed the survey electronically and five consented to participate in the phone survey with the same set of questions. Six programs are offered fully online with the remaining three using a combination of in-person and online instruction. Four programs incorporate pharmacy technicians alongside school of pharmacy faculty in teaching. Six programs follow a cohort style approach. A combination of tuition and/or grants are used to fund programs. Variability exists across programs in terms of structure, funding, faculty involvement and the number of hours allocated to didactic, simulation and experiential components. CONCLUSION: Program structures differ significantly, giving schools of pharmacy flexibility to design offerings aligned with their resources. Academic pharmacy technician programs may contribute to developing a sustainable pharmacy technician workforce.