by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, pharmacy technician/assistant was the 394th most popular major nationwide with 7,393 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 471 over the prior year, a growth of 6.4%.
This year's Best Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools ranking compares 91 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of pharmacy technician/assistant programs later in this article.
A major in pharmacy technician/assistant prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and talking to others to convey information effectively.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most pharmacy technician/assistant degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific pharmacy technician/assistant careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant degree levels vary. Pharmacy Technician/Assistant programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest pharmacy technician/assistant degree you can get. Depending on the pharmacy technician/assistant degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to pharmacy technician/assistant, with approximately 18.0% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for pharmacy technician/assistant workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 40.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 12.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.2% |
| Some College Courses | 8.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 8.4% |
Most workers in pharmacy technician/assistant have at least a associate degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in pharmacy technician/assistant have received.
This of course varies depending on which pharmacy technician/assistant career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your pharmacy technician/assistant degree? Pharmacy Technician/Assistant careers are expected to grow 17.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to pharmacy technician/assistant.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 450,100 | 11.8% |
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
Take your associate degree in an allied health field to the next level with this specialized transfer friendly online bachelor of science from Southern New Hampshire University.
As you might expect, salaries for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers pharmacy technician/assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $34,020 |
With over 665 different pharmacy technician/assistant degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased pharmacy technician/assistant school rankings to help you with this.
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant is one of 13 different types of Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 56,466 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 7,420 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 4,848 |
| Other Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 3,493 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,031 |
