Program Details

Everything you need to know before you enroll — how the program works, what to expect, and how we support you.

Program Overview

Our PTCB-recognized Pharmacy Technician Training Program is a 4-month, 208-hour online course that prepares you to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and earn your CPhT credential. The program uses the same curriculum and textbooks used at accredited community college pharmacy technician programs.

How the Program Works

There are two parts to your experience, and it helps to understand the difference upfront:

The two systems talk to each other. Your grades and course completion status sync automatically from the learning platform back to our system. When you complete all activities in both courses, you automatically receive your Certificate of Completion and a congratulations email.

What "Self-Paced" Actually Means

When you enroll, your 4-month program window starts immediately. Within that window, you set your own schedule. There are no live lectures to attend, no set class times, and no deadlines for individual chapters.

Here's what that looks like in practice:

• You choose when to study. Morning, night, weekends — whatever works for your life. Most of our students study after work or after their kids go to bed.
• You choose how fast to go. Some students finish in 8 weeks. Others take the full 4 months. Both are fine.
• You can revisit any material. Didn't understand a chapter? Go back and redo it. There's no penalty for reviewing.
• The suggested pace is about 13 hours per week. That's roughly 2 hours a day if you study most days of the week. But you can bunch it up or spread it out however you want.

The one thing that matters is finishing all the coursework within your 4-month window. If life gets in the way and you need more time, reach out to Keith — we'll work with you.

How Grading Works

Your grade is based on the chapter exams in each course. Each chapter includes practice activities (video lessons, flash cards, practice problems) and a chapter exam at the end.

• Chapter exams are what count. The practice activities (videos, flash cards, practice problems) are for your learning and preparation. They don't count toward your grade, but you need to complete them.
• You need a 70% or above on each chapter exam. If you score below 70%, you can retake the exam. There's no limit on retakes.
• Multiple attempts are encouraged. The exams are a learning tool, not a gotcha. If you don't pass the first time, review the material and try again. Most students pass on the first or second attempt.
• All activities must be completed. Even though only chapter exams are graded, you need to complete every activity (videos, flash cards, practice tests) in both courses to finish the program. Our system tracks completion, not just grades.

How We Support You

This is not a "sign up and figure it out yourself" program. Keith Hunt, your instructor, is a licensed pharmacist who has been teaching pharmacy technician students for over 5 years at the college level. He is available and responsive.

• Email support: Email Keith directly at foothillspharmacytech@gmail.com with any questions about the material, the program, or pharmacy careers. He typically responds within 24 hours.
• Progress monitoring: Keith monitors student progress through the learning platform. If you fall behind or stop logging in, he will reach out to check on you.
• Study guidance: If you're struggling with a particular topic (pharmacy calculations is the common one), Keith can point you to additional resources or explain concepts in a way that clicks.
• Career guidance: After you complete the program, Keith can help you navigate the PTCE registration process, advise on pharmacy job applications, and answer questions about different pharmacy settings (retail, hospital, compounding, etc.).

You also have access to a Course Companion — an AI assistant built into this website that can answer common questions about the program, enrollment, textbooks, and the PTCE exam 24/7.

Week-by-Week Curriculum

The program follows a structured schedule with two parallel textbook tracks. Here's the suggested pace — remember, you can go faster or slower within your 4-month window.

Each chapter includes Watch and Learn video lessons, flash cards for key terminology, practice problems, and chapter exams. All content is accessible through your learning platform via the Student Portal.

What You'll Learn

• Pharmacy law and regulations
• Pharmacology fundamentals
• Medication safety and error prevention
• Prescription processing and dispensing
• Pharmacy calculations and conversions
• Sterile and non-sterile compounding
• Inventory management
• Insurance and billing procedures
• Patient communication and customer service
• PTCE exam preparation and practice tests

Cost Breakdown

Full transparency on costs — there are two parts, and that's it. No hidden fees.

Required Textbooks

Two digital textbooks are required, each with an access code:

Important: Purchase through our Foothills store to guarantee you get the correct editions with access codes included. If you buy textbooks from another source, you'll still need to purchase access codes separately through Paradigm to unlock your online course content.

What Happens After You Enroll

1. You get a welcome email with your enrollment receipt, getting started instructions, and textbook purchase links.
2. You purchase your textbooks from our Foothills store on Paradigm Education. Each textbook comes with an access code.
3. You log into your Student Portal on this website and click "Open My Course" to access the learning platform.
4. The first time you open a course activity, you'll enter your textbook access code. This is a one-time setup — after that, everything opens automatically.
5. You work through both courses at your own pace, completing video lessons, flash cards, practice problems, and chapter exams.
6. When you complete all activities in both courses, you automatically receive your Certificate of Completion (208 hours) and a congratulations email with next steps.
7. You register for the PTCE at ptcb.org, schedule your exam, and earn your CPhT credential.

Prerequisites

• High school diploma or GED
• Basic algebra math skills — the course requires comfort with fundamental math concepts
• Computer with internet access and basic computer skills
• No prior pharmacy experience required

Our program meets North Carolina standards for pharmacy technician training. If you reside out of state, please check with your state's Board of Pharmacy to confirm program requirements.

After Completion

When you complete the program, you will be prepared to:

1. Register for the PTCE through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) at ptcb.org
2. Pass the exam and earn your CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician) credential
3. Apply for pharmacy technician positions in retail, hospital, mail-order, compounding, and specialty pharmacies

The PTCE exam fee is currently $129 (paid separately to PTCB). You should register within 60 days of completing the course while the material is fresh.