Pharmacy Technician Program

When you graduate, you will have mastered many skills, including the ability to:

• Identify drugs by both generic and brand name.
• Calculate the correct dosage and solution strength.
• Perform techniques and procedures to compound and mix different drugs.
• Define ethics and explain the laws that apply to the practice of pharmacy.
• Perform functions that are connected to institutional and clinical distribution systems.
• Provide exceptional customer service.

Across online and campus-based classes, you’ll learn from FVI’s experienced faculty to gain the knowledge and hands-on experience needed. You’ll also receive job placement support from a dedicated team to help you make the transition to your career as a pharmacy technician.

The program is designed to help you become licensed and certified to work as a pharmacy technician.

Yes, you need to register to work as a pharmacy technician in Florida. The first step to working as a pharmacy technician is to register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy. To register, you must attend and graduate from an accredited school.

FVI’s pharmacy technician program is accredited by COE and approved by CIE and the Florida Board of Pharmacy.

Once you have completed our approved accredited training program at FVI, you can become certified by taking a certification exam that is approved by the State Board of Pharmacy in Florida. You can only take this exam once you have completed your training courses at FVI. In order to prepare for the certification, FVI offers 40 hours of preparation to ensure you pass on the first attempt! ​

There are two different certificating bodies for pharmacy technicians in the US: The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, which offers the PTCB CPhT exam, and the National Healthcare Association, which offers the ExCPT exam. Passing one of these exams allows the pharmacy technician to carry the status of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CphT)​

FVI includes a dedicated PTCB exam preparation course in the curriculum to help students succeed. Pass rates are monitored annually and reported to accreditation bodies. For the most current statistics, please contact the Admissions Department.

You can register for the certification exam as soon as you graduate. Both the PTCB CPhT exam and the NHA ExCPT exam allow recent graduates to schedule a test right away. There is no rule that you must test immediately — you can take the PTCB exam at any point after graduation, even years later. For the ExCPT exam, your training must have been completed within the last five years, or you’ll need to qualify through work experience. In Florida, passing one of these national exams is an important step toward becoming registered as a pharmacy technician with the state.

Students can start the application process online or contact the Admissions Department at the Miami campus. The process includes an admissions interview, submission of a valid photo ID, proof of high school diploma or GED (or certified foreign equivalent with translation), and completion of the Scholastic Level Exam (SLE). Applicants must also be at least 17 years old at the time of enrollment. A knowledgeable Admissions Counselor will walk you through each step of the application process.

The Pharmacy Technician diploma program can be completed in 9 months, with graduating students ready to sit for national certification exams and apply for state registration.

To see the total cost of the program please visit our Consumer Information page for the most up-to-date breakdown of tuition.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual mean wage for Pharmacy Technicians in Florida is $41,620, and the hourly mean wage is $20.01. Exact pay can vary depending on experience, workplace setting, and location.

The program is delivered in a hybrid format. Students complete live online classes for theory-based courses, attend in-person labs at FVI’s Miami campus for compounding and pharmacy practice, and complete a supervised externship in a retail or hospital pharmacy. This model allows flexibility while ensuring hands-on skill development.

Instruction is available in English and Spanish at the Miami campus.

Certified pharmacy technicians often begin in entry-level roles in retail or hospital settings, but many advance into supervisory or lead technician positions. Others specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, or long-term care. Some technicians use the role as a stepping stone into further healthcare education, including nursing, pharmacology, or other allied health careers.