Pharmacy Technician Diploma Program

Step Into a High-Demand Pharmacy Career

The Pharmacy Technician Diploma Program, offered at St. Augustine College at Lewis University, provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to work in retail and hospital pharmacies, assisting pharmacists in medication dispensing, inventory management, and patient care. This healthcare program blends classroom instruction and hands-on experience, helping develop the technical expertise required to excel in this growing field.

Employment for pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 6% by 2032, as pharmacists take on more direct patient care responsibilities. This 9-month program includes a 160-hour externship, ensuring that graduates have real-world experience before entering the workforce.

How do I get licensed as a pharmacy technician in Illinois?
Illinois pharmacy technicians must register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) before working under a licensed pharmacist. There are three registration types: Registered Pharmacy Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), and Student Technician (for those currently enrolled in a training program). Certification isn’t required to register initially, but it is required to renew your registration in year two. All registrations expire annually and must be renewed by March 31.

Why Choose St. Augustine’s Pharmacy Technician Program?

• Practical, Job-Ready Skills – Train in medication dispensing, pharmaceutical calculations, insurance billing, and compounding, preparing you for roles in both retail and hospital pharmacy settings.

• Real-World Pharmacy Externship – Gain 160 hours of hands-on experience in a professional pharmacy environment by building confidence and industry connections under the immediate supervision of a registered pharmacist.

• Fast and Focused Career Preparation – Complete your pharma tech diploma and become a certified pharmacy technician in about 36 weeks, and step into a high-demand field with strong career opportunities.

The Pharmacy Technician Diploma Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to be offered at the Chicago campus of St. Augustine College at Lewis University. With dedicated faculty, career-focused coursework, and hands-on learning, students are prepared for success in a career as a pharmacy technician in medical settings in Chicago, Illinois, and across the country.

Take the First Step Toward Your Career

A rewarding career as a pharmacy technician can start with a health program that gives you the skills to become a pharmacy technician in less than a year. Apply today and begin your journey at St. Augustine College at Lewis University.

*This program will have in-person classes for the clinical skills classes as well as the externship.

Pharmacy Technician Diploma Program Details:

Program Length: 36 weeks (9 months), including 160 hours of externship – 31 credit hours

The Pharmacy Technician Training Program will prepare you to learn the following administrative and clinical skills:

1. 1. Dispensing medication under a licensed pharmacist
   2. IM injection with training
   3. Compounding
   4. Electronic health records in pharmacy
   5. Trained in basic life support (CPR)

More than half of all pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, Jewel-Osco, etc. Some of the pharmacy technicians also work in hospital pharmacies.

These are transferable skills, meaning that you can take these skills learned during the Pharmacy Technician program and apply them to a variety of other roles, especially in healthcare, customer service, and administrative fields.

Pharmacy technicians in Illinois register through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, with three designations — Registered Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy Technician Certified, and Student. Certification isn’t required for initial registration but is required for renewal in year two. All registrations expire annually and must be renewed by March 31.

Admission Requirements:

1. General Admission Requirements
   1. Be 17 years of age or older
   2. Be a high school graduate or hold an official transcript of the General Education Development (GED) test.
   3. Lewis University requires all students to take placement exams in English and Mathematics as part of the admission process. These no-pass, no-fail tests are designed to ensure that students are ready to enroll in the English and Mathematics courses that are required in the Pharmacy Technician program.
2. Other Program Requirements
   1. An acceptable Criminal Background Check is required before the externship.
   2. Physical Examination form will be provided by the Director of Allied Health, which will be filled out by the student’s primary care physician.
   3. The vaccinations and tests that will be required by clinical sites are the following:
      1. Hepatitis B vaccine – 3 series; at least the first dose of the three series has been administered before the start of externship
      2. COVID-19 vaccines – primary doses as well as booster doses
      3. TB testing – Quantiferon or PPD test

Accreditations:

SAC’s Pharmacy Technician Diploma Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has been approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to be offered at  St. Augustine College at Lewis University.

Will be applying for specialized program accreditation with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Pharmacy Technician Career Outlook:

The demand for skilled professionals who complete a pharmacy technician certification program continues to grow. Employment for certified pharmacy technicians is projected to increase by 6% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. As the role expands to include responsibilities like administering vaccines, those who complete a pharmacy technician training program or earn a pharmacy tech certificate are well-positioned to meet the rising need for pharmacy services, especially among the aging population and those with chronic conditions like diabetes.
With pharmacists taking on more direct patient care, pharmacy technicians are increasingly essential to daily operations. Graduates of a pharmacy technician course or a pharm tech certification program are trained to handle critical tasks such as collecting patient information, transferring prescriptions, and verifying medication details. Enrolling in a pharmacy tech training program prepares students for a rewarding, in-demand healthcare career.