How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in California
Thinking of becoming a pharmacy technician (pharmacy tech) in California (CA)? Listed below you will find information on licensing and certification requirements as well as information on the top accredited pharmacy tech schools near you and throughout California for 2023.
There are currently 37,630 persons employed as pharmacy technicians in California, earning an average annual salary of $42,610.
The Bureau for Labor Studies (BLS) anticipates that employment in the sector will grow by 7% between 2018 and 2028 – higher than the average for all other professions.
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- California Certification and Licensing Requirements for Pharmacy Technicians
- Top Pharmacy Tech Schools in California
- How much do Pharmacy Techs make in California?
- Employment Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians in California
Pharmacy Technician Requirements California
To work as a pharmacy tech in California, you must apply to the California Board of Pharmacy for a license.
A high school diploma or equivalent and proof of formal training are prerequisites for licensing in the state. You must either graduate from an approved course or have obtained national certification. Pharmacy technician training provided by a branch of the federal armed services is also accepted.
You must also complete a Self-Query Report from the National Practitioner Databank and include it with your application. Applications can take 45 to 60 days to be processed and approved and 6 weeks before you receive your hardcopy license.
You can contact the board on the details below:
Phone: 916-574-7900
Website: www.pharmacy.ca.gov
Once you have obtained your license, you must renew it every odd-numbered year.
National Certification
There are two national certifying bodies;
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB/ PTCE): Since the beginning of 2020 the PTCB requires that candidates complete a PTCB-recognized training program.
- The National Healthcareer Association Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT): The NHA requires you to complete a training program or have 1 year of work experience.
Approved training programs for California for both the PTCB and NHA are listed here.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in California
If you wish to become a certified pharmacy technician, you should complete an approved pharmacy technician training program.
Pharmacy technician programs are accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ASHP/ACPE) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). There are 27 ASHP and/or ABHES-accredited pharmacy tech schools in California.
Top 27 Schools for Pharmacy Tech in California
| School | City | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| American Career College | Anaheim | ABHES - Diploma |
| North Orange County Community College District | Anaheim | ASHP |
| North West College | Bakersfield | ABHES - Diploma |
| Pima Medical Institute | Chula Vista | ASHP / ABHES |
| North West College | Glendale | ASHP |
| American College of Healthcare | Huntington Park | ABHES - Diploma |
| Foothill College | Los Altos | ASHP |
| American Career College | Los Angeles | ABHES - Diploma |
| East Los Angeles Occupational Center | Los Angeles | ASHP |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | ASHP |
| Galaxy Medical College | North Hollywood | ABHES - Diploma |
| American Career College | Ontario | ASHP / ABHES - Diploma |
| North West College | Pomona | ASHP |
| American College of Healthcare | Riverside | ABHES - Diploma |
| Glen Oaks College | Riverside | ABHES |
| Asher College | Sacramento | ASHP |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | ASHP |
| Loma Linda University | San Bernardino | ASHP |
| Glendale Career College | San Diego | ABHES* |
| North West College | San Diego | ABHES - Diploma |
| San Diego Community Training Center | San Diego | ASHP |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | ASHP |
| Pima Medical Institute | San Marcos | ABHES |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | ASHP |
| North West College | Van Nuys | ASHP |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | ASHP |
| North West College | West Covina | ASHP |
Sacramento CA
Pharmacy technicians in Sacramento earn an average salary of $45,660 per year. There are currently over 2,300 people employed as pharmacy techs in the area. Listed below are the top accredited pharmacy technician programs in Sacramento CA:
- Carrington College
- Charles A. Jones Career & Education Center (SCUSD)
- Cosumnes River College
San Bernardino CA
Working as a pharmacy technician in San Bernardino, you will earn an average annual pay of $39,850 per annum. There are approximately 3,750 people employed as pharmacy techs in the area. Listed below are the top accredited pharmacy technician schools in San Bernardino Valley area:
- San Bernardino Valley College
- American Career College, Ontario
Pharmacy Technician Salary California
| Average Salary California | $42,610 |
| Above/Below National Average | 30.30% |
| Hourly Wage | $20.48 |
| Bottom 10% / Entry Level | $27,430 |
| Top 10% | $62,140 |
| Number Employed | 37,630 |
The average salary for pharmacy technicians in California is $42,610, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018*.
This equates to an average hourly wage of $20.48, over 30% above the national average salary of $32,700.
*The most recent salary data for 2019/2020 can be found here.
Pharmacy Tech Employment in California
There are currently 37,630 persons employed as pharmacy technicians in the state.
The table below provides a breakdown of salaries and employment of pharmacy techs across the main towns, cities and non-metro areas in California.
Unsurprisingly the highest concentration (over 35%) of pharmacy tech employment in California is in the Los Angeles area.
However, pharmacy techs in the San Francisco area earn the highest average salary at $51,040 – over 22% more than the state average.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | # Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $38,160 | 900 |
| Chico | $44,910 | 250 |
| El Centro | $36,760 | 140 |
| Fresno | $36,850 | 960 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $40,850 | 160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $41,180 | 13,510 |
| Madera | $41,210 | 220 |
| Merced | $37,150 | 140 |
| Modesto | $38,310 | 430 |
| Napa | $42,140 | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $39,900 | 630 |
| Redding | $44,230 | 170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $39,850 | 3,750 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade | $45,660 | 2,340 |
| Salinas | $46,340 | 360 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad | $39,050 | 3,150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward | $51,040 | 4,400 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $45,350 | 1,990 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande | $42,200 | 280 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $43,770 | 340 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $47,150 | 440 |
| Santa Rosa | $49,880 | 410 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $43,250 | 700 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield | $47,130 | 390 |
| Visalia-Porterville | $38,230 | 450 |
| Yuba City | $37,260 | 180 |
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