Pharmacy Technician Program FAQs

Question 1

How do clinical hours (Externships) work?

Accepted Answer

After completing the 4-month online portion of the program and passing your national certification exam, you’ll move into your clinical externship, where you’ll complete 130 in-person hours at a local pharmacy or healthcare facility.

Stepful provides support to help you secure an externship site that fits your location and availability. Externships typically begin within 1–3 months of earning your certification and are scheduled during weekday business hours. You can complete your externship on a full-time or part-time schedule, depending on what works best for you, as long as you’re available during those hours. Placement is subject to site availability.

With a network of over 8,000 clinical partners nationwide and hundreds more added each month, Stepful helps connect you to real-world opportunities. This hands-on experience is a vital part of the program, giving you the chance to apply classroom learning, build confidence in a pharmacy setting, and form connections that can lead to full-time employment.

Question 2

Do you help graduates find a job?

Accepted Answer

At Stepful, our mission is to break down barriers to healthcare careers and help every student move into a meaningful role after graduation. To support that mission, we offer a structured Job Coaching Program that guides graduates into full-time healthcare roles after completing their clinical hours.

Students begin with an 8-week Job Readiness Cohort that combines weekly live coaching, job search strategy, resume building, interview practice, and workplace success skills. Graduates also receive weekly job leads, and their resumes are shared with Stepful’s healthcare employer partners. For those who need additional support, Stepful provides up to 2 more months of on-demand 1:1 coaching, including mock interviews, resume reviews, and targeted job leads.

With this approach, about 60% of graduates secure jobs within 2 months and over 80% within 4 months of starting the job coaching program.

Question 3

Are clinical hours (Externships) guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No — externships are not guaranteed. But Stepful is committed to helping every student gain real-world, hands-on experience and ultimately land a full-time job in healthcare. Our externship booking platform and support team are here to connect you with opportunities and guide you through the process.

Some things that can help speed up your externship placement:
• Staying responsive and in good communication with your coach
• Completing all eligibility requirements (like paperwork, background checks, or health forms) on time

Some things that can delay externship placement:
• Limited site availability, especially in rural areas
• Missing deadlines or being unresponsive to your coach
• Missing scheduled interviews or acting unprofessionally with a clinic partner

By staying engaged and professional, you’ll put yourself in the best position to secure an externship quickly and smoothly. What Stepful is doing is unheard of in healthcare education — we place hundreds of students in externships and jobs every single week. It’s proof of how deeply we believe in our students and how far we’ll go to make sure you graduate confident, supported, and job-ready.

Question 4

Which Pharmacy Tech certification exam am I eligible to take after completing this program?

Accepted Answer

Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician program prepares you for both the ExCPT exam, issued by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and the CPhT exam, issued by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Our curriculum is aligned with both organizations’ standards, ensuring that graduates are eligible to sit for these nationally recognized credentials — widely accepted by retail pharmacies, hospitals, and health systems.

The ExCPT exam includes 120 multiple-choice questions and carries a fee of $125, while the CPhT exam includes 90 multiple-choice questions and carries a fee of $129. Exam fees are not included in tuition, but students who register through Stepful may be eligible for discounts or rebates. You may take your NHA exam online or in-person.

We’re proud to say Stepful students score about 10 points above the national average on the ExCPT and CPhT exams — a reflection of the quality instruction, curriculum, and support we provide every student.

Question 5

Does the NHA CPhT certification count for college credit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The NHA ExCPT exam is approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) for 2 semester hours of college credit (vocational certificate level) when accepted by a college or university.

Once you pass the exam, you’ll receive an ACE transcript via Credly. Keep in mind: each school decides whether to accept the credit and how it applies to your degree, so it’s important to check with your institution.

Question 6

Is Stepful's Pharmacy Technician program accredited?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) — the leading accrediting body for pharmacy technician education. In addition, our program is designed to prepare students for the ExCPT exam, which is issued by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and the CPhT exam, which is issued by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Both NHA and PTCB are nationally recognized certification agencies trusted by employers across the country.

This means that when you complete the program, you are eligible to sit for either the ExCPT or CPhT exam — credentials that retail pharmacies, hospitals, and health systems recognize when hiring pharmacy technicians. We only accept students in regions where these credentials are valid and widely recognized by employers.

To confirm your eligibility, complete our free online application — it only takes a few minutes and will let you know right away if we serve your area.

Question 7

Is Stepful legit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Stepful is a trusted education provider with a proven track record of preparing students for healthcare careers. More than 8,000 clinical partners nationwide host our students for externships, and over 30,000 students are actively enrolled today.

Stepful was also recently recognized by TIME Magazine as the #1 edtech company in the United States, a reflection of the quality and impact of our programs.

Question 8

What is included in Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician program tuition?

Accepted Answer

The Pharmacy Technician program includes access to your online classroom, weekly live classes with an instructor, and mock exams for both the ExCPT and CPhT exams.

You’ll also get support to secure an externship site where you will complete 130 in-person clinical hours after graduation. A background check and drug screen are included with tuition. For externships, up-to-date vaccinations are generally required; the specific list and any additional onboarding requirements are set by each individual clinical site.

In addition, the program includes an 8-week Job Coaching Program to help you land a full-time job. No textbooks are required — all learning materials are available in your online classroom.

Question 9

Is the program online or in-person? How long is the program?

Accepted Answer

Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician program is 100% online for 4 months (15 weeks) of live classes and coursework.

After completing the online portion and earning your national certification, you’ll get support from your career services team to secure interview opportunities for a 130-hour in-person externship at a local pharmacy. Externships typically begin within 1–3 months after certification.

Question 10

How do online classes work at Stepful?

Accepted Answer

Classes meet live on Zoom twice a week for 90 minutes each. Between sessions, you’ll complete daily assignments, quizzes, and projects in the online classroom. Coursework is unlocked one week at a time so you can stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.

Group projects and interactive activities keep learning engaging and help you apply skills in real-world scenarios. As you progress, you’ll take mock exams and focused prep sessions to prepare for both the NHA ExCPT and the PTCB CPhT exams.

All materials are included online — no textbooks required. The program is built to give you the structure, practice, and support you need to feel confident, earn your certification, and graduate job-ready for a full-time healthcare role.

Question 11

What is the refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Stepful offers a 3-day money-back guarantee on all tuition and fees for students who withdraw within 3 days of signing up. After classes begin, students may withdraw within the first two weeks and receive a full refund of tuition.

Enrollment fees are non-refundable after the 3-day guarantee period. Please note that there may be additional flexibility depending on your state’s refund regulations.

Question 12

What are the requirements to enroll?

Accepted Answer

To enroll in any Stepful program, you must meet the following requirements:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• 18 years or older
• Valid government-issued ID
• Authorization to work in the United States

Our Pharmacy Technician program does not currently operate in all states and zip codes. We only accept students in locations where we can confidently support their externship placement and job search after graduation. These restrictions are in place to make sure every student has a strong opportunity to transition into a full-time healthcare role.

The best way to confirm your eligibility for the Pharmacy Technician program is to complete our free online application. It only takes a few minutes and will let you know right away if we serve your area.

Question 13

What tuition payment options are available?

Accepted Answer

Tuition can be paid upfront or through biweekly installments using Stepful’s flexible payment plans. We’re committed to keeping our programs as affordable as possible, which is why we offer generous grants for new applicants that significantly reduce tuition costs.

Visit our Affordability page to explore the different ways to lower tuition — including grants, payment plans, and other funding options.

Question 14

How much does Stepful's Pharmacy Technician program cost?

Accepted Answer

The full tuition for Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician program is $3,999. However, most students qualify for Stepful’s generous grants, which lower the cost to $1,450.

Your exact tuition depends on your individual eligibility. The best way to find out your cost is to complete our free online application — it only takes a few minutes and will show you your personalized tuition right away.

All required learning materials are included at no extra cost. Flexible payment plans are also available to make tuition more manageable. You can also visit our Affordability page to learn more about grants, discounts, and other ways to lower tuition.

Limited state availability

Available in AL, FL, GA, IL, LA, NV, OH, PA, UT, VA and WV

Receive your national CPhT certification

100% online followed by mandatory, in-person clinical hours

ASHP/ACPE accredited program

3-Day money back guarantee available

How to become a Pharmacy Technician

4-Month online class

In-person clinicals

Land a full-time job

Get your Pharmacy Tech certification online

Issuing authority

Online Pharmacy Tech classes at your own schedule

What you’ll learn

Weeks 1-4

Weeks 5-9

Weeks 10-14

Weeks 15+

Job ready with Stepful

$44,000
Median annual salary

75%
Certification pass rate

130 In-person clinical hours

80%
Job placement rate

Pharmacy Technician Professional course FAQs

Resources for aspiring certified Pharmacy Techs

Pharmacy Technician Requirements by State: Education, Certification, & Licensing

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in California: Requirements & Licensing

What is a Pharmacy Technician & What Do They Do?

PTCB Certification: What to Know About the CPhT Exam

Pharmacy Technician Skills (Medication, Administrative, & Customer Service)

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

Join thousands of students getting certified with Stepful!

4-Month online pharmacy technician course

Receive your national NHA-CPhT certification

100% online followed by in-person clinical hours

Job interview prep and resume services

3-Day money back guarantee available

Limited state availability

Available in AL, FL, GA, IL, LA, NV, OH, PA, UT, VA and WV

Receive your national CPhT certification

100% online followed by mandatory, in-person clinical hours

ASHP/ACPE accredited program

3-Day money back guarantee available

How to become a Pharmacy Technician

4-Month online class

In-person clinicals

Land a full-time job

Get your Pharmacy Tech certification online

Issuing authority

Online Pharmacy Tech classes at your own schedule

What you’ll learn

Weeks 1-4

Weeks 5-9

Weeks 10-14

Weeks 15+

Job ready with Stepful

$44,000Median annual salary

75%Certification pass rate

130 In-person clinical hours

80%Job placement rate

Pharmacy Technician Professional course FAQs

What is included in Stepful’s Pharmacy Tech certification program tuition?

What tuition payment options are available?

What Pharmacy Technician certifications do you prepare me for?

Do you help graduates find a job?

What are the requirements for the externship?

What’s the difference between Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician vs Pharmacy Technician Professional program?

What is the refund policy?

What are the requirements to enroll in the program?

Is the program online or in-person?

Do you have a partnership with the NHA?

Resources for aspiring certified Pharmacy Techs

Pharmacy Technician Requirements by State: Education, Certification, & Licensing

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in California: Requirements & Licensing

What is a Pharmacy Technician & What Do They Do?

PTCB Certification: What to Know About the CPhT Exam

Pharmacy Technician Skills (Medication, Administrative, & Customer Service)

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

Join thousands of students getting certified with Stepful!

4-Month online pharmacy technician course

Receive your national NHA-CPhT certification

100% online followed by in-person clinical hours

Job interview prep and resume services

3-Day money back guarantee available

$44,000
Median annual salary

75%
Certification pass rate

80%
Job placement rate