Online Colleges for Pharmacy

Pharmacy Online Colleges

While pharmacy degrees aren't required to be able to work as a pharmacy technician, gaining a certificate, diploma, or an associate degree could be helpful in landing a job as employers often favor candidates with those credentials. Online pharmacy programs can help you learn about preparing prescriptions, verifying insurance and assisting a pharmacist. You may also learn about anatomy, medical terminology, and physiology. Online pharmacy programs are typically fast-paced and usually offer completion times anywhere between six months to two years (the latter for when you are seeking an associate degree). Pharmacists, on the other hand, require much more education. They need to have at least a two-year degree in a science-related professional field and then must earn a PharmD degree, which usually takes four years to obtain. These types of pharmacy degree programs aren't available online, but if you want to become a pharmacy technician or aide, an online pharmacy program could work for you.

According to the BLS, the pharmacy technician field is expected to grow 31 percent between 2008-2018. Pharmacy techs earned mean annual wages of $29,330, but those in the top 10 percent earned mean annual wages above $40,000, according to 2010 BLS data. In most states, pharmacy techs have to register with the state board of pharmacy; they can also seek certification through national organizations such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians. The majority of pharmacy techs work in retail, but some work in hospitals or in mail-order pharmacies. There are also a number of other fields that could be of interest to those who are considering a career as a pharmacy aide.

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