Prepare to take the NHA or PTCE national certification exam
100% online followed by in-person externship
Job interview prep and resume services
ASHP/ACPE-accredited program
1:1 support from enrollment to employment

What You’ll Learn
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Weeks 1-4
Learn the foundational healthcare knowledge you need to become a well-rounded pharmacy technician and start diving into pharmacy practice.
Weeks 5-9
Master the ins and outs of pharmacology and get hands-on with pharmacy calculations and prescription medications.
Weeks 10-14
Develop skills in processing and dispensing prescriptions, and prepare for the NHA ExCPT Exam with mock tests and a comprehensive review of key pharmacy concepts.
Weeks 15+
Apply everything you learned online and earn clinical hours in a pharmacy setting. Our experienced coaches will help polish your resume, prepare you for interviews, and support you in your full-time job search.
Online Pharmacy Tech classes at your own schedule
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01
Graduate from high school or complete your GED
In Ohio, you must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and pass a background check to work as a pharmacy technician.
You’ll need proof of these items when you enroll in a training program and register with the state.
02
Enroll in & complete a pharmacy technician training course
Pharmacy technician training courses prepare you with the skills and knowledge needed for certification. Our program here at Stepful covers critical topics like pharmacy law and medication safety and gives you hands-on training in drug preparation.
In Ohio, certified pharmacy technicians must complete an approved technician training program. These programs, like ours at Stepful, need to have accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). This accreditation recognizes the high quality of services and care provided by Stepful’s online pharmacy technician course.
03
Complete a pharmacy technician externship
Many aspiring pharmacy technicians seek out externships to gain hands-on experience. During an externship, students work alongside experienced pharmacists, applying their knowledge in real-world settings and developing practical skills they will need for their careers.
Stepful supports our students in finding externship opportunities*. Organizations in Ohio that can offer externship opportunities, but are not necessary affiliated to Stepful, include the Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals and many local pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS.
*Please note, students must be available M-F, 9-5 p.m., to be eligible for externship support
04
Pass a pharmacy technician certification exam
To become a certified pharmacy technician in Ohio, you must pass a national certification exam, such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or NHA's ExCPT exam. Stepful’s students have a 75% pass rate for the NHA exam, 12 points above the national average.
After passing your exam, you will register with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to get your pharmacy technician license.
05
Start your career
With your certification and license in hand, you can start your job search. Pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities, and research organizations across Ohio. There are even work-from-home options.
A quick search of job websites like Indeed and LinkedIn will show you that there are many pharmacy technician jobs available in Ohio.
Stepful career counselors will support your job search with resume reviews, mock interviews, and career coaching. We are as excited as you are to see you start your dream job in Ohio.
In addition to certification, Ohio requires pharmacy technicians to register with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. The state offers different categories of registration, including Certified Pharmacy Technician, Registered Pharmacy Technician, and Pharmacy Technician Trainee.
You can find a detailed breakdown of each category and its requirements in the Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s official Pharmacy Technician Registration FAQ.
Pharmacy technician jobs in Ohio provide a promising career path with strong job security. As of May 2023, Ohio employs 17,370 pharmacy technicians, with new job openings regularly appearing in hospitals, retail pharmacies, and long-term care facilities.
In Ohio, the average salary for a pharmacy technician is $41,150 per year. Opportunities for even higher pay exist in hospitals and specialized pharmacies, depending on whether you are certified and how much experience you have.
The areas with the most jobs for pharmacy techs in Ohio are in the following metropolitan areas:
- Cincinnati: With 3,450 pharmacy technicians employed, this is the state’s highest employment region for pharmacy techs.
- Cleveland: The second highest number of jobs can be found in this region, with 3,380 pharmacy technicians employed.
- Columbus: Coming in third, this region employs 3,100 pharmacy technicians.
A career as a pharmacy technician offers stability, competitive pay, and potential for career advancement. With Stepful’s online pharmacy technician training program, you can quickly gain the skills needed to enter this growing field.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow nationally due to an aging population and increased reliance on prescription medications. The BLS projects that the pharmacy technician field will grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, adding thousands of new jobs nationwide.
$41,150
+
7% Growth
17,370
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Joining a professional organization can provide networking opportunities, job resources, and continuing education for pharmacy technicians. Here are some organizations that support pharmacy technicians:
- Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA): The Ohio Pharmacists Association provides pharmacy technicians access to continuing education, professional development opportunities, and industry updates. The association also advocates for pharmacy technician roles in healthcare and offers resources to help technicians stay informed on best practices and regulatory changes.
- National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA): This national organization provides certification preparation, continuing education, and career resources.
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB): The PTCB offers certification exams and continuing education to maintain your credentials.
What is Stepful?
Stepful provides online training for healthcare careers, including pharmacy technicians. We are on a mission to create economic opportunity for 1 million job seekers in healthcare.
What is the refund policy?
A student who cancels before the first week of class receives a refund with tuition paid to date with the exception of the $59 non-refundable registration fee. Thereafter, the student who cancels receives a prorated refund.
What Pharmacy Technician certifications do you prepare me for?
Our classes prepare you to test for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s Certified Pharmacy Technician exam (CPhT). You will also be prepared to take the National Healthcareer Association's Certified Pharmacy Technician exam (ExCPT).
Do you help graduates find a job?
What tuition payment options are available?
Students have the options to pay upfront or in installments with a flexible payment plan. Stepful offers partial scholarships, reach out to our admissions team for more information.
Tuition includes online instructor-led Zoom classes, clinical sessions, PTCB & NHA certification exam prep, dedicated 1:1 coaching and job support services. Exam fees are not included in your tuition.
You need a copy of your high school diploma or GED and a stable internet connection.
Is the program online or in-person?
Do you have a partnership with the National Healthcareer Association?
Yes! Our program is recognized by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), a leading credentialing organization in the healthcare industry. Our status as an NHA-Recognized Education/Training Program ensures your full preparation for the NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) exam.
What is included in Stepful’s Pharmacy Tech certification program tuition?
The Pharmacy Technician Professional 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 minimum 130 unpaid, in-person clinical hours after the 15-week online portion.
What tuition payment options are available?
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.
What Pharmacy Technician certifications do you prepare me for?
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.
Do you help graduates find a job?
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.
What are the requirements for the externship?
Our career services team will support you with securing an externship opportunity for your 130-hour unpaid, in-person externship at a local pharmacy. Completing the externship is mandatory for graduation.
In order to be eligible for an externship, you must complete the online portion of your class, meet your state licensing requirements, and pass a drug screening, in addition to other requirements.
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 standard business hours and can complete a minimum of 20 hours per week on an ongoing basis. Placement is subject to site availability.
What’s the difference between Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician vs Pharmacy Technician Professional program?
While both of Stepful’s programs prepare students for national certification, the Pharmacy Technician Professional program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ASHP/ACPE), whereas the Pharmacy Technician program is not.
Students in the Pharmacy Technician Professional program will be required to complete and pass admissions requirements in order to enroll in the program. Additionally, for the Pharmacy Technician Professional program, the 130 hour unpaid, in-person externship is required in order to graduate.
Students in the Pharmacy Technician program may graduate after completing the 15-week online classes.
Which program is available to you and which one you should take depends primarily on the requirements in your state of residence.
What is the refund policy?
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.
What are the requirements to enroll in the program?
To enroll in any Stepful Pharmacy Technician Professional program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Be 18 years or older
- Have a valid government-issued ID
- Have authorization to work in the United States
- Pass a background check
- Pass a general education/math assessment
- Complete an externship agreement form
The best way to confirm your eligibility for the Pharmacy Technician Professional 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.
Is the program online or in-person?
Stepful’s Pharmacy Technician Professional 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 externship opportunities for a 130-hour unpaid, in-person externship at a local pharmacy. This externship is required to graduate.
Do you have a partnership with the NHA?
Yes! Our program is recognized by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), a leading credentialing organization in the healthcare industry. Our status as an NHA-Recognized Education/Training Program ensures your full preparation for the NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) exam.

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