Frequently Asked Questions

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is the nationally recognized organization that certifies pharmacy technicians. Passing the PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) earns you the CPhT credential, which is required or preferred by most pharmacy employers.

Our program is PTCB-recognized, meaning it meets the educational standards set by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board for eligibility to sit for the PTCE exam.

The program is designed to be completed in 4 months. You can study at your own pace within this timeframe, with instructor support available via email throughout.

There are two parts to the cost. The enrollment fee is $180, which covers instruction, instructor monitoring, and Student Portal access. Course materials are purchased separately through our Foothills store: Certification Exam Review 6E ($116) and Pharmacy Calculations 7E ($102). The PTCE exam fee (currently $129; check ptcb.org for the latest) is paid separately to PTCB when you're ready to take the exam.

You must have a high school diploma or GED. No prior pharmacy experience is required. You'll need a computer with internet access.

Yes! The entire program is delivered online. You can study from anywhere with an internet connection, on your own schedule. After enrolling, everything is accessible through your Student Portal.

After enrolling, log in to foothillspharmacytech.com and go to your Student Portal. Click "Open My Course" to access your lessons, flash cards, practice tests, chapter exams, and gradebook. No separate accounts or logins needed — one click takes you right to your course.

The best option is to purchase directly through our Foothills store on Paradigm Education. This guarantees you get the correct editions with access codes included in one purchase.

If you prefer to buy textbooks from another source (Amazon, used from a classmate, etc.), you will still need to purchase access codes separately through the Paradigm site. Without an access code, you cannot access the online course content.

Common mistake: Students buy used textbooks or the wrong edition and don't realize the access codes are separate. This delays getting started. Buying through our Foothills store is the simplest path — one purchase, everything included.

Access codes come with your digital textbook purchases when you buy through our Foothills store. Each textbook includes an access code that unlocks the corresponding course content. If you purchased textbooks from another source, you'll need to buy the access codes separately through the Paradigm site.

For technical issues with the course platform (access code issues, content not loading), visit Kendall Hunt Support. For questions about the coursework itself or the program, contact Keith directly at info@foothillspharmacytech.com.

You can reach Keith Hunt directly at info@foothillspharmacytech.com. He's available throughout the program to answer questions about coursework, pharmacy careers, or the PTCE exam. You can also use the AI assistant on this website for quick answers 24/7, or the contact form.

Chapter tests are the only graded assignments. You need a 70% or above to pass each chapter test. Everything else in the course — flash cards, practice problems, study activities — is for your own learning and development to help you prepare for the chapter tests. Those activities are not graded.

You can retake chapter tests multiple times until you pass. There is no penalty for retaking a test.

That's okay! Life happens. As long as you complete all of the chapter tests, you're fine. If you miss an activity or get behind on the schedule, just keep working through the material at your own pace.

If you don't finish within your 4-month enrollment period, you can roll over into the next cohort at no additional cost. Your progress and textbook access are preserved — you just get more time to finish.

Plan for approximately 12–15 hours per week to stay on track with the 16-week schedule. Many students study in the evenings or on weekends while working full-time. The program is self-paced within the 4-month timeframe, so you can adjust based on your schedule.

Absolutely. The program is 100% online and self-paced, specifically designed for working adults. Many students complete the program while working full-time jobs. You can study evenings, weekends, or whenever works best for you.

After completing the program, you'll be prepared to take the PTCE exam. Once certified, you can work as a pharmacy technician in retail pharmacies, hospitals, mail-order pharmacies, and other healthcare settings. The median salary for pharmacy technicians is approximately $43,460/year (BLS, 2024).

You may request a full refund within 7 days of enrollment, provided you have not accessed or activated course content. After 7 days, requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. See our full Refund Policy for details.