BECOMING A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN NORTH CAROLINA

If you have an interest in the booming field of healthcare, consider becoming a pharmacy technician. As a pharmacy technician, you would work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, preparing the medication. Your duties would include mixing and measuring liquids, counting pills, labeling prescriptions, and keeping accurate records of dosages of prescribed medicines. [Leer en español]

REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IN NORTH CAROLINA

You’ll need to get a high school diploma or equivalent or be enrolled in a high school diploma program, to become a pharmacy tech in this state. Registering with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy requires you to be employed by a pharmacy holding a valid in-state permit and to complete a training program provided by the pharmacist.

Training by a pharmacist will include pharmacy laws and regulations, calculations, dispensing systems, and requirements for labeling, handling, and storage of medications, record-keeping, and documentation. You can also obtain registration in North Carolina if you hold certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA

To be as competitive as possible in the job market, it’s helpful to be able to demonstrate to a potential employer that you’ve had formal training. Some of the pharmacy technician schools in North Carolina that offer pharmacy technician programs that can give you the skills you need to start your career as a pharmacy technician include:

Durham Tech. An associate’s degree program in pharmacy technology is offered at this community college located in Durham, NC. The program is accredited by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists and includes practical training in a variety of settings.
Divine Health Academy. Located in Charlotte, NC, this program consists of 90 classroom hours, 60 homework hours, and 240 externship hours in an approved pharmacy and can thoroughly prepare you to work as a pharmacy tech.
Penn Foster Career School. Penn Foster offers an affordable, ASHP Accredited online Pharmacy Technician training program. More information.

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PHARMACY TECH CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING IN NORTH CAROLINA

In the State, to work as a certified pharmacy technician registration with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy is required. You’ll need to complete training through your pharmacist employer within 180 days of becoming employed.

You can also complete a training program through an accredited institution. Another option is to become certified through a national certifying agency such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

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CAREER OUTLOOK AND SALARY EXPECTATIONS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the pharmacy technician field is anticipated to grow faster than average for all occupations. Growth is forecasted to be 10 percent between 2020 and 2030. There are several reasons for the greater demand for prescription medications, which include the fact that much of the population is aging, and there are higher rates of chronic diseases among all age groups.

In 2020, the median annual salary for pharmacy technicians was $36,740. This means that half of all those who had this position earned more and half earned less. The annual mean salary for North Carolina pharmacy technicians is $35,930 and the hourly mean is $17.27.

WORKING AS A PHARMACY TECH IN NORTH CAROLINA

There are several different settings where you can work as a pharmacy tech. Some examples include working in drugstores, nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and pharmacies. You may work a variety of hours, which could be during the day, night, and weekends since many healthcare settings are open around the clock.

The trend is for pharmacists to take on expanding roles, including tasks such as giving flu shots. This means pharmacy technicians are doing more and more tasks formerly done by pharmacists. The job outlook for pharmacy technicians throughout the state appears very promising.

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WELL-KNOWN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN NORTH CAROLINA

Davidson County Community College-Thomasville offers a Diploma, Certificate, and pharm tech Associate in Applied Sciences Degree Program. Their Pharmacy Technology program is accredited by the prestigious American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

A student may enroll in a six-semester degree or a three-semester diploma, and full-time students at the Durham Technical Community College must enroll in the summer semester.

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FAQS

What are the best pharmacy technician schools in North Carolina?

Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte
Southeastern Institute, Charlotte
Davidson County Community College, Thomasville
Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem
Stanly Community College, Albemarle
Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington
Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville

How do you become a pharmacy technician in North Carolina?

You must be at least 18 years old
You must have a high school diploma or GED
Gain employment in a permit-holding pharmacy before registration
Register with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy
Complete a training program provided by the pharmacist

How much do pharmacy technicians make in North Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in the state of North Carolina made an average of $35,930 per year in 2020. Entry-level pharm techs earned around $27,260 and some experienced professionals earned as much as $46,470.

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ALL SCHOOL LISTINGS

Asheville, NC Area

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

340 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801

Pharmacy Technician – Program

The program is taught at their location in Asheville. This public college has about 7,507 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* The cost of tuition for students living in the state is about $2,033 and for students from other states around $7,396 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $1,600, although this will depend on the program. This program is ASHP accredited. The program staff includes 2 technicians and a pharmacist. The school offers starting dates in the Fall. Acceptance Requirements: H.S. diploma or GED equiv., completion and score of TEAS test., Accuplacer scores. General Location Training Sites: Asheville, NC. Academic award: A.A.S., and Diploma. They say Financial aid, cert preparation. exam, 2 Biosafety cabinets, 1 LAH, pyxis machine, unit dose packing machine, zebra thermal printer, and intimate relationship with area medical institutions.

Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Area

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

401 Medical Park Drive, Concord, North Carolina 28025-3959

Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program

The Associate’s program at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is offered at their campus in the city of Concord, North Carolina. The majority of the school’s 451 students are in 4-year programs. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Commission on Colleges, while the program itself is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* Tuition fees are generally around $11,330 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,300, although this will depend on the program. This program is ASHP accredited. Staff on the program includes 2 technicians, 3 lab/clerical support, and a pharmacist. Fall entry only, however, students may begin taking general education requirements during any semester Class scheduling: Full-time, part-time options, hybrid format combining online and face-to-face classes for scheduling flexibility. See the course selection schedule at www.cabarruscollege.edu for details.

Wilmington, NC Area

Cape Fear Community College

411 North Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401-3910

Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program, Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program

Cape Fear Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are imparted at their campus in the city of Wilmington. This public college has about 9,246 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. Cape Fear Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Commission on Colleges and the programs are separately accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* The cost of tuition for students living in the state is roughly about $2,425 and for students from other states around $8,569 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $1,300, although this will depend on the program. This program is ASHP accredited. Staff on the program includes 2 lab/clerical support, and 2 pharmacists. The school offers start dates in mid-August. Candidates must undergo an interview. Class scheduling: Full-time/daytime. Acceptance Requirements: H.S. Diploma or GED equivalency; transcripts; overall GPA of 2.0 or higher in all post-secondary courses taken in the last 3 years at CFCC; and completion of applicable placement tests and remedial courses if required based on placement test scores. Applications must be made in person. Applicants to the AAS Degree Program must have an overall of 2.5, complete all of the Diploma Program classes with a “C” or better, and have passed the PTCB exam. General Location Training Sites: New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties-accessible with a 30-minute drive or less.. Academic award: Diploma. They say: The Pharmacy Technology program at Cape Fear Community College has been in existence since 1997. We offer a twelve-month Diploma Program and a two-year AAS Degree Program. Each student receives extensive hands-on training in the classroom and laboratory, as well as clinical rotations at five (Diploma) or seven (AAS Degree) different practice sites. Financial aid is available to qualified applicants. An endowed scholarship for a qualified Pharmacy Technology second-semester student is available. Counseling and job placement services are available to all students.

Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Area

Central Piedmont Community College

1201 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204

Pharmacy Technician – Program

The program is taught at their location in Charlotte. The college has in the order of 19,957 students in total, with the majority of students in 2-year programs. Central Piedmont Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Commission on Colleges, and the program itself is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* The cost of tuition for students living in the state is roughly $2,664 and for out-of-state students around $8,808 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $1,334, although this will depend on the program. This program is ASHP accredited. The program staff includes a lab/clerical support member, and 2 pharmacists. The school offers start dates in August. Class scheduling: Full-time. Acceptance Requirements: H.S. diploma or GED equivalency, transcript, and TEAS test General Location Training Sites: less than 20 miles from the campus. Academic award: AAS Pharmacy Technology. They say: Hands-on skill development, computer experience financial aid, assistance with resume writing and interview skills, preparation for the certification examination

Western Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area Area

Davidson County Community College

297 Davidson Community College Rd, Thomasville, North Carolina 27360-7385

Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program, Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program

Davidson County Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are imparted at their campus in Thomasville in Davidson County, North Carolina. Most of the school’s 4,073 students are in 2-year programs. Davidson County Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, while the programs themselves are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* The cost of tuition for in-state students is usually in the order of $1,866 and for students from outside the state in the order of $6,474 per year. Study materials can cost in the order of $1,600, as necessitated by the chosen program. This program is ASHP accredited. The program faculty includes 2 technicians, 3 lab/clerical support, and a pharmacist. The school offers start dates in the Fall semester (August). Class scheduling: Full-time, daytime & online. Acceptance Requirements: H.S. Diploma or GED equivalency; transcripts; and completion of applicable placement tests and remedial courses if required based on placement test scores. Students must complete an eligibility review with Enrollment Services and complete the requirements for admission as described in the Allied Health Packet. Students must be admitted to the Pharmacy Technology Diploma Program before taking Pharmacy (PHM) courses with a laboratory component (PHM-111, PHM-118). Applicants to the AAS Degree Program must have completed the Pharmacy Technology Diploma Program, and have passed the PTCB exam. Students must be admitted to the Pharmacy Technology AAS program before taking Pharmacy (PHM) courses with a laboratory component (PHM 150, PHM 155). Qualified applicants are admitted to the program based on selective ranking criteria. General Location Training Sites: Davidson & Davie counties, Piedmont Triad area. Academic award: diploma and Associate of Applied Science degree. They say: The Pharmacy Technology program prepares individuals to assist the pharmacist in duties that a technician can legally perform and to function within the boundaries prescribed by the pharmacist and the employment agency. Students will prepare prescription medications, mix intravenous solutions and other specialized medications, update patient profiles, maintain inventories, package medications in unit-dose or medi-card form, and gather data used by pharmacists to monitor drug therapy. Job placement services are offered for students who are seeking employment in the field. Employment opportunities include retail, hospitals, nursing homes, research laboratories, wholesale drug companies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Graduates from the program may be eligible to take the National Certification Examination to become certified pharmacy technicians.

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Area

Durham Technical Community College

1637 Lawson Street, Durham, North Carolina 27703-5023

Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

Durham Technical Community College offers various Certificate Pharmacy Technician program options. Classes are taken at their campus in the city of Durham. This public college has about 5,605 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. Durham Technical Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, while the programs themselves are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* Fees for tuition for in-state students are likely to be in the order of $1,840 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $6,388 yearly, while books and supplies may cost about $1,300, although this will vary with the program. This program is ASHP accredited. Start dates are May each year for the pharmacy core sequence, but students may enroll in May of each year for the pharmacy core sequence, but students may enroll in support courses in any semester. Class schedule: daytime, full-time, part-time. Acceptance Requirements: Completed application: transcripts; placement testing at specified levels or completion of the specified remedial course; completion of high school chemistry or equivalent. Clinical training requires physical and immunization documentation along with a reference evaluation form. General Location Training Sites: Major medical centers and community general hospitals. They say: Operating since 1975, Durham Tech’s program is only one of two ASHP-accredited programs in North Carolina. The program places a strong emphasis on hands-on competency achievement and outcome assessment. Financial aid is available to qualified applicants: counseling and job placement services are available to all students.

Fayetteville, NC Area

Fayetteville Technical Community College

2201 Hull Rd, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303-0236

Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program, Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

Fayetteville Technical Community College offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. All programs are imparted at their campus in the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina. This public college has about 12,398 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. Fayetteville Technical Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Commission on Colleges, while the programs are separately accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* Tuition fees for in-state students are around $2,378 and for out-of-state students approximately $8,522 annually. Books and supplies can cost around $1,750, although this will depend on the program. This program has AHSP candidate status.

Winston-Salem, NC Area

Forsyth Technical Community College

2100 Silas Creek Pky, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27103-5197

Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program, Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

Forsyth Technical Community College offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. All programs are imparted at their campus in the city of Winston-Salem. This public college has in the order of 9,528 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. Forsyth Technical Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Commission on Colleges, while the programs are separately accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* The cost of tuition for students living in the state is around $1,962 and for out-of-state students around $6,546 for each academic year. Books and supplies can cost roughly $1,025, although this will depend on the program. This program is ASHP accredited. The program staff includes 3 technicians, a lab/clerical support member, and 10 pharmacists. The school offers starting dates in the Fall semester, August. Class scheduling: full-time, evening. Acceptance Requirements: Students are required to have completed the following: a high school diploma or its equivalent, applied for admission to the college, attend a Health Technologies Information Session completed a minimum admissions requirement session with the admissions department General Location Training Sites: Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Academic award: Associate of Applied Science Degree. They say: The Pharmacy Technology department is in one of the new facilities on the campus of Forsyth Technical Community College’s main campus. The program offers didactic instruction using Smart Technology via a Smartboard. The program also has a separate laboratory in which students can practice skills that are taught in the classroom. Forsyth Technical Community College also offers job placement services for students who are seeking employment in the field. The pharmacy technology department offers preparation courses and tutorials for students that are preparing for the pharmacy technician certification board examination.

Greensboro-High Point, NC Area

Guilford Technical Community College

601 High Point Rd., Jamestown, North Carolina 27282

Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program, Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

Guilford Technical Community College offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. Classes are taken at their campus in Jamestown in Guilford County. Most of the school’s 13,656 students are on 2-year programs. The school is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.* Fees for tuition for in-state students are likely to be in the order of $2,462 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $8,606 yearly. Learning materials may cost about $1,118, although this varies from program to program.

Raleigh-Cary, NC Area

Johnston Community College

245 College Road, Smithfield, North Carolina 27577-2350

Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program, Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

Johnston Community College offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. Classes are taken at their campus in Smithfield in Johnston County. The majority of the school’s 4,235 students are on 2-year programs. Johnston Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Commission on Colleges, and the programs themselves are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* Fees for tuition for in-state students are likely to be in the order of $2,385 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $8,529 yearly, while books and supplies may cost about $1,350, although this will vary with the program. This program has AHSP candidate status.

Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area Area

Vance-Granville Community College

200 Community College Road, Henderson, North Carolina 27537

Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

The Certificate program at Vance-Granville Community College can be taken at their campus in the town of Henderson, North Carolina. The college has about 4,008 students in total, with most students in 2-year programs. Vance-Granville Community College is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.* Fees for tuition for in-state students are likely to be about $1,826 and for students from other states likely to be about $6,434 yearly, while study materials may cost about $1,122, although this will vary with the program.

Raleigh-Cary, NC Area

Wake Technical Community College

9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-5696

Pharmacy Technician – Associate Program, Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

Wake Technical Community College offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. Classes are taken at their campus in Raleigh in Wake County, NC. Most of the school’s 19,160 students are in 2-year programs. Wake Technical Community College has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Commission on Colleges and the programs are separately accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.* Fees for tuition for in-state students are in the order of $2,485 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $8,629 yearly. Learning materials may cost about $1,850, although this varies from program to program. This program has AHSP candidate status.

Goldsboro, NC Area

Wayne Community College

3000 Wayne Memorial Dr, Goldsboro, North Carolina 27534-8002

Pharmacy Technician – Certificate Program

Wayne Community College’s Certificate-level Pharmacy Technician program is offered at its campus in the city of Goldsboro, NC. This public college has about 3,837 students in total, with most students on 2-year programs. The school has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.* Fees for tuition for in-state students are in the order of $2,380 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $8,524 yearly. Learning materials may cost about $1,560, although this varies from program to program.

* Accreditation status and tuition fees are correct at the time of the last update and are sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Confirm with the college or university before applying.

OUT-OF-STATE OPTIONS

Residents of North Carolina may also wish to review their options in Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.