Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists dispense prescription medication. They work under the supervision of pharmacists, who must review all prescriptions before they are given to patients. If a customer’s question is about the medication or health matters, the pharmacy technician arranges for the customer to speak with the pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications. They may make rounds in the hospital, giving medications to patients. Pharmacy technicians typically do the following:

• Count and measure amounts of medication for prescriptions
• Compound or mix medications, such as preparing ointments
• Package and label prescriptions
• Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
• Help with office work, such as answering phone calls from customers.

Students will learn how to assist the pharmacist in a simulated retail or hospital setting. Training will include: inventory, ordering, labeling, storing, distributing medicines, working with the patient records, billing information, gathering information for the pharmacist, and distribution of printed information to the patient.

This program is made up of two parts. Part 1 is in Class and Lab Training (400 hours). Part 2 is a Pharmacy Technician Externship Training (200 hours). Students who successfully complete this training must have a high school diploma or GED to qualify to take the national exam. After passing the national exam, students may apply to become a licensed Pharmacy Technician in the State of Utah. Students must complete the license application process with the State of Utah within two years (24 months) of the program start date. Externships allow the student to go to an on-site pharmacy setting, where they observe and assist in the daily tasks with the pharmacist in a retail or hospital pharmacy. Students will be responsible to arrange their own externship site in coordination with the program instructor.

Our Pharmacy Technician Program partners with PioneerRx, the top pharmacy management system in the industry. PioneerRx enhances our curriculum with a hands-on approach to learning that simulates the functions and workflow of today’s most innovative pharmacies. For more information, visit PioneerRx.

The MTECH Pharmacy Technician program is ASHP accredited.

1. MTECH Program Certificate in Pharmacy Technician.
2. Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) Utah State Pharmacy Technician Licensure (not required for completion)
3. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) National Pharmacy Technician Certification, or National Healthcareer Association (ExCPT) National Pharmacy Technician Certification
4. Healthcare provider BLS and First Aid 

  Registration Eligibility: Adults and high school seniors only.

  Registration Availability: Registration for Fall 2019 opens April 23, 2019 at 8:00 am online on the MTECH Registration Portal and remains open until classes are full. It is recommended to create your MTECH Student Portal account in advance.

  Program Length: 600 hours or approximately 9 months.

  Times: Mornings, Afternoons and Evenings. See schedule details below.

  Locations: MTECH Lehi Main and Spanish Fork Campuses

  Financial Aid Eligible: This program is eligible for Financial Aid and Veterans Assistance.   +Learn More

  High School Students: Students should coordinate with home high school counselors prior to registration.

  Entrance Assessment: Students must take the MTECH Entrance Assessment. The Entrance Assessment is free and takes about an hour to complete. No appointment is necessary. To learn more visit mtec.edu/testing.

  New Student Orientation: Students must complete the brief MTECH New Student Orientation prior to first day of class.  To learn more visit mtec.edu/nso.

Any student 18 yrs of age or older must complete and pass a background check before beginning the externship.

All students, regardless of age, must complete a drug screen. Illicit drug use, criminal background checks, and immunization status may prevent future employment as a pharmacy technician, and that externship sites, employers, and State Boards of Pharmacy have regulations about drug use and criminal backgrounds.

  Students must have a high school diploma or GED to sit for the National Exam and must be at least 18 years old to license with the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). Students must pass the national exam and submit the state application within two years of the first day of the program in order to obtain their license. Felony records will disqualify students from taking the exam. In order to sit for that national exam students must be within 60 days of getting their high school diploma or GED.

  VERY IMPORTANT: High School seniors will be required to pay tuition beginning for the remaining hours necessary to complete the externship hours at $2 per hour.

Mandatory Orientation Meeting for Registered Students. 

Registered students are required to attend an orientation meeting to receive their Pharmacy Technician Enrollment Packet, Pharmacy Technician Trainee License criteria, and other important information. Students will fill out the application for the license and go over all of the necessary documentation at this meeting. Any student not able to attend that day will need to set up an appointment with the instructor to get the information on their own. The application process can take up to three weeks to complete. Please plan on attending.