Working in the healthcare industry can be a very rewarding career.
More specifically, working as a pharmacy technician may be a rewarding job for candidates who enjoy helping others, have excellent attention-to-detail skills, good time-management skills, and grasp concepts rather quickly.
There is a specific process in order to qualify as a pharmacy technician and each state has its own requirements.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician in California
Candidates who wish to work as a pharmacy technician in the state of California must meet the requirements under the Business and Professions Code section 4202.
The state does NOT have an examination to obtain a license.
If students meet the minimum requirements, as set out by the California State Board of Pharmacy, then students are eligible to work as a pharmacy technician in the state.
Licenses are issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy.
And, to obtain licensure, candidates must follow a specific process. Licenses must be renewed every two years.
The current cost of the license is $195.
The process starts with attending an accredited pharmacy technician program that is approved by the California State Board of Pharmacy.
Candidates have to complete a set amount of hands-on training through an internship/externship and complete/submit a formal application form to the California State Board of Pharmacy.
In addition, all candidates must pass a criminal background check.
Candidates can do a license search to ensure that their license has been processed and issued.
5 Pharmacy Technician Schools in California
1. Foothill College – Los Altos Hills
The school offers two pharmacy technician programs.
The first is a certificate course which may be completed in nine months.
This program is offered from fall every year.
The second is an Associate of Applied Science Pharmacy Technician, which may be completed in two years or four semesters.
These programs are ASHP/ACPE accredited.
The certificate program only accepts 35 students each year and the approximate course fees are $1,900.
Upon successful completion of these courses, students are awarded a Certificate of Program Completion.
Students are eligible to apply to the California State Board of Pharmacy as pharmacy technicians as well as be eligible for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
The associate degree course is a combination of general studies and pharmacy-related courses.
Students are able to transfer to a four-year degree from this course.
2. Santa Ana College – Santa Ana
This school offers a Pharmacy Technician Certificate course which may be completed in as little as one year and an Associate degree course which may be completed in two to four years.
Both courses are ASHP accredited.
The program starts in fall, spring, and summer.
During the spring and fall intake, day, evening, and hybrid classes are available.
During the summer intake, only evening classes are available.
Course work is a combination of theory, lab work, and externship.
The 120-hour mandatory externship takes place in a hospital outpatient setting, a retail setting, and a home infusion/sterile products pharmacy setting.
Some sites require that students complete a mandatory background and health screening.
In-state students will pay approximately $48 per credit unit for this course.
3. Pima Medical Institute – Chula Vista
Prima Medical Institute offers a certificate and associate degree program that are both nationally recognized and state licensed.
The program prepares students to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination.
The certificate program may be completed in nine to 12 months, while the associate degree program may be completed in two years.
All pharmacy technician programs at this school are ASHP accredited.
The certificate course is offered in a hybrid method.
Coursework is a combination of theory, lab work, and externship.
Tuition for this course is $12,975 for the nine-month certificate course.
4. Charles A Jones Career and Education Center – Sacramento
Charles A Jones Career and Education Center offers a 36-week, 1080-hour certificate course that is accredited by the ASHP.
Students are able to complete the course in nine to 12 months.
Classes are from Monday through Friday for 6.5 hours per day.
The program includes lab work and a 120-hour externship where students are able to apply what they have learned.
Course work includes a range of topics, such as customer service, pharmacy math, and pharmacology, as well as medical insurance for pharmacy technicians.
Tuition and fees for the course are $10,620.00.
5. Cerritos College – Norwalk
The school offers an ASHP accredited 32-credit certificate program and a 60-credit associate degree program.
The programs start in the spring and fall.
The certificate program may be completed in three to four semesters.
Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for their Pharmacy Technician License.
Students use PioneerRx, industry-leading software, that allows them to experience real-world work scenarios.
The program comprises lab work, theory, and an externship.
Tuition for the certificate program ranges between $1207.50 to $1700.00.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in California- Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in California
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Foothill College - Los Altos Hills | 12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 |
| Santa Ana College - Santa Ana | 1530 W 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92706 |
| Pima Medical Institute - Chula Vista | 780 Bay Blvd, Chula Vista, CA 91910 |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center - Sacramento | 5451 Lemon Hill Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824 |
| Cerritos College - Norwalk | 11110 Alondra Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650 |
Pharmacy Technician Salary in California
Students may expect to earn an entry-level salary of $33,767.
Mid-level salaries go up to $41,600 and experienced candidates earn $50,770 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Pharmacy Technicians in California
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $42,100 |
| San Diego | $40,200 |
| San Jose | $46,800 |
| San Francisco | $46,600 |
| Long Beach | $41,500 |
| Fresno | $37,100 |
| Sacramento | $40,300 |
| Oakland | $44,300 |
| Santa Ana | $41,600 |
| Anaheim | $41,600 |
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 850 | $49,380 | $23.74 | $70,210 | $36,010 |
| Chico, CA | 230 | $51,620 | $24.82 | $64,210 | $36,080 |
| El Centro, CA | 150 | $49,230 | $23.67 | $63,230 | $36,450 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,200 | $51,340 | $24.68 | $71,040 | $35,650 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 150 | $48,470 | $23.3 | $57,660 | $36,900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 15,030 | $53,720 | $25.83 | $75,530 | $38,870 |
| Madera, CA | 140 | $51,620 | $24.82 | $66,940 | $36,260 |
| Merced, CA | 180 | $45,780 | $22.01 | $60,070 | $35,940 |
| Modesto, CA | 480 | $53,320 | $25.64 | $73,190 | $36,100 |
| Napa, CA | 190 | $69,630 | $33.48 | $89,390 | $45,760 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 830 | $51,960 | $24.98 | $73,600 | $37,210 |
| Redding, CA | 190 | $50,700 | $24.37 | $72,420 | $35,710 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,520 | $51,840 | $24.92 | $72,150 | $38,160 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 2,630 | $57,540 | $27.66 | $79,330 | $38,220 |
| Salinas, CA | 400 | $54,480 | $26.19 | $75,470 | $38,290 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 3,540 | $53,520 | $25.73 | $74,560 | $37,700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 4,040 | $67,310 | $32.36 | $90,980 | $46,180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,120 | $68,670 | $33.01 | $88,700 | $44,610 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 340 | $54,330 | $26.12 | $74,760 | $37,280 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 270 | $50,760 | $24.4 | $70,820 | $38,110 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 450 | $55,260 | $26.57 | $73,220 | $37,740 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 420 | $60,330 | $29 | $80,510 | $39,800 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 640 | $53,210 | $25.58 | $79,050 | $36,870 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 430 | $60,680 | $29.18 | $86,300 | $39,110 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 430 | $49,620 | $23.86 | $70,200 | $35,540 |
| Yuba City, CA | 180 | $49,880 | $23.98 | $63,420 | $36,470 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a certificate without going to school?
Yes. You can apply to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) but will require a set amount of training prior to your application.
Is being a pharmacy tech hard?
Yes. This role is challenging and there are a lot of responsibilities that a pharmacy technician must master.
Is it better to become a pharmacy technician before becoming a pharmacist?
In many cases, candidates who first study to become a pharmacy technician are more equipped for the role of a pharmacist when they do make the transition.
