Pharmacy Technician
Help patients get the medications they need.
Choose the Pharmacy Technician Diploma or the Pharmacy Technician Associate Degree. Study online in live classes, practice with lab materials sent to your home, and gain real-world experience through pharmacy externships. Both programs prepare you for the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam.
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Next Term Starts January 3, 2027! Limited spots are available.
Two paths into the pharmacy.
Start working sooner with the diploma, or go deeper with the associate degree.
Pharmacy Technician Diploma
$18,336 total program cost
Focus on the core skills of the job: pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, pharmacy law and ethics, community and institutional pharmacy operations, and pharmacy software, plus externship experience and a course dedicated to CPhT exam prep.
Leads to: Pharmacy technician roles in retail and hospital pharmacies
Pharmacy Technician Associate Degree
$36,672 total program cost
Everything in the diploma plus anatomy and physiology, general education, and business electives. Complete two 120-hour pharmacy externships and prepare for the CPhT exam and the Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) exam.
Leads to: Pharmacy technician roles in retail, hospital, and long-term care pharmacies
Why study pharmacy technology at American National University
Job-ready pharmacy skills, taught online with hands-on practice.
100% online, live instruction
Classes and labs meet by live video with an instructor, with self-paced coursework in between.
Hands-on labs at home
Lab materials are sent to your home so you can practice the techniques and skills pharmacy technicians use every day.
Real pharmacy experience
Externships place you in a retail pharmacy or healthcare setting, where you apply what you learned alongside working professionals.
Built-in certification prep
A dedicated exam success course prepares you for the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam through the PTCB or NHA.
Instructors from the field
Learn from instructors who have worked in pharmacy, with real-world scenarios, problem-solving, and networking built into your courses.
An advisor who knows your name
One point of contact from enrollment through graduation — not a rotating call queue.
How it works
Built for students already juggling a full life.
Choose your path
Pick the diploma to start working sooner, or the associate degree for a broader education and more externship hours.
Learn online
Join live video classes and labs, and complete self-paced coursework on your schedule.
Train in a real pharmacy
Complete your externship in a retail pharmacy or healthcare setting near you, based on site availability.
Get certified
Prepare for the CPhT exam and graduate ready to pursue pharmacy technician roles.
Where these programs lead
Here’s what the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects for pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Technician
connected to the Pharmacy Technician Diploma and Associate Degree 6% projected employment growth, 2025–2035 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, reviewed September 25, 2026Getting started
Start dates, admissions, and paying for it.
Start dates
New terms begin multiple times a year — American National University runs roughly five main terms annually, plus mid-session start options, so you’re rarely far from your next start date.
Admissions requirements
All Pharmacy Technician students must pass a background check before the program starts. Talk with an advisor about any additional requirements.
Financial aid
Federal aid (FAFSA-based grants, loans, and work-study) is available to those who qualify and can be combined with American National University’s own institutional grants and scholarships, including options for military families and employer tuition assistance.
Transfer credits
Undergraduate transfer credits may be accepted for prior learning and professional, military, and volunteer experience. An advisor can review what applies to your program.
Frequently asked questions
Are these programs fully online?
Yes. Classes and labs are delivered online through live video and self-paced coursework, with lab materials sent to your home. Your externship takes place in person at a pharmacy or healthcare site, based on site availability, and may require a commute.
What’s the difference between the diploma and the associate degree?
The diploma (48 credit hours) focuses on core pharmacy technician skills. The associate degree (96 credit hours) adds anatomy and physiology, general education, and business electives, includes two 120-hour externships, and also prepares you for the Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) exam. An advisor can help you decide.
Will I be prepared to get certified?
Yes. Both programs include a course that prepares you for the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam, offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareers Association (NHA).
What will I study?
Courses include medical terminology, pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, pharmacy law and ethics, community and institutional pharmacy operations, pharmacy software applications, and communication for healthcare professionals.
What do the programs cost?
Both programs are $382 per credit hour. The total program cost is $18,336 for the diploma (48 credit hours) and $36,672 for the associate degree (96 credit hours).
Where do pharmacy technicians work?
Pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacy chains, independent pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, physician offices, and the military.
Is American National University accredited?
Yes. American National University is institutionally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Both Pharmacy Technician programs are offered through the Salem, Virginia campus and are programmatically accredited by the Pharmacy Technician Accrediting Commission (PTAC).
Accreditation you can check yourself
DEAC-accredited
American National University is institutionally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. These programs are offered through the Salem, Virginia campus.
PTAC-accredited programs
The diploma and associate degree are accredited by the Pharmacy Technician Accrediting Commission, a collaboration between the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Room to grow
Start with the diploma, and talk with an advisor about how your credits may apply toward the associate degree later.
Ready to start your pharmacy career?
Talk to an advisor about which program fits, cost, and your start date — no pressure, no obligation.
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