Maine Pharmacy Technician Program

Once students have their high school diploma or GED, they can enroll in a pharmacy technician training course. There are several different types of training programs available for aspiring pharmacy technicians. These include: 

1. Associate Degree Programs

Associate degree programs take about two years to complete and can cost several thousand dollars. Students will have to complete general education courses such as writing, mathematics, and humanities courses in addition to their pharmacy technician-specific classes.  

2. Trade School or Community College

Students who enroll in a community college or trade school certificate program will not earn a degree, but will qualify for the same certificate examination as those who complete their associate degree program. These programs are much less expensive than associate degree programs and can be completed in 6-12 months. 

3. Online programs

Online programs like Stepful are the least expensive and can be completed in four months. These programs result in the same certifications as in-person programs, with the added benefit of flexible scheduling and the ability to study from home.

When choosing a program, make sure that you find one that is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and approved by the PTCB or AHA. In addition, consider the cost, time commitment, exam passing rate, and online reviews of any program that you are considering.

During a pharmacy technician externship, students shadow a working pharmacy technician and get real-life experience. This allows students to practice skills such as mixing and labeling medications or handling high-risk prescriptions. 

Externships typically last a few weeks, and students spend 40-100 hours in their chosen facility. Those who make a good impression during their externship may be offered a permanent position upon graduation.

Stepful understands how important externship hours are and helps ensure that each student has an opportunity to access interviews in pharmacies in the state.

Pharmacy technician training programs, like ours at Stepful, should prepare students to pass one of two certification examinations. Students trying to become certified can take either the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), or the Certified Pharmacy Technician Exam (ExCPT) offered by the National Healthcareer Association. 

Both of these certifications are nationally recognized and are accepted by most healthcare organizations requiring certification. 

Both exams cover essential topics such as medication labeling, patient safety, receiving prescription requests, inventory management, measuring and dispensing medication, adverse medication reactions, accepting payment or billing insurance for prescription medications, and maintaining patient privacy. The cost of the two tests is also similar, with the NHA exam costing $125 to take, and the PTCB exam costing $129.