By: Jenn Hall | December 2026
If you are looking for a career that you can start in less than a year, has good work versatility, and competitive pay, then a career as a pharmacy technician may be a great fit!
Check out the top five reasons to become a pharmacy technician!
#1: Diverse work environments to choose from
Pharmacy technicians may work in a variety of locations, including:
- Retail or mail-order pharmacies
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Clinics
- Mental health institutions
- Insurance companies
- Government agencies
- Research organizations
- Military
Your exact schedule may vary depending on the facility in which you choose to work. For example, a retail pharmacy may require evening or weekend shifts, whereas an insurance company may allow you to keep regular business hours during the week. In many cases, you will have the opportunity to choose between part-time or full-time work.
#2: Meaningful impact on patient care
Pharmacy technicians make a meaningful impact on patient care every day. From ensuring that medications are prepared accurately and provided to patients efficiently to processing insurance claims so patients only pay the portion required through their plan, pharmacy technicians contribute to patient safety and satisfaction. Beyond direct patient interactions, pharmacy technicians also support pharmacists and other clinical staff, supporting workflow efficiency, administrative tasks, and compliance adherence, which all contribute to better patient safety and care.
#3: Career training can be completed in less than a year
To become a pharmacy technician, you must complete your high school education, as well as a pharmacy technician career training certificate program. Your training will cover a variety of relevant topics, such as medical terminology, drug dosages, inventory and dispensation control management, DEA requirements for controlled substances, pharmacy math, drug compounding, and more. Typically, this training can be completed in less than a year.
Students enrolled in U.S. Career Institute’s online pharmacy technician certificate program may complete their studies within 4-9 months, part time. Students also may choose to participate in an externship with Walgreens to gain additional hands-on experience. Upon completion of the pharmacy technician certificate program, students will be prepared to take the PTCE or EXCPT exam.
#4: Good salary potential
The median annual salary for a pharmacy technician is $43,460, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As with most careers, there are several factors that may influence your earning potential, such as location, experience, industry certification, and work setting. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following variances in pharmacy technician median annual salary expectations based on work setting:
- Ambulatory care centers: $49,920
- Hospitals: $49,310
- Pharmacy or drug retailers: $37,900
#5: Strong job growth for pharmacy technicians expected through 2034
Pharmacy technician jobs are expected to increase by 6%, which equates to approximately 49,000 new jobs each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increased demand for pharmacy technicians is attributed to, in part, an aging population and increased prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes). Additionally, there will be some natural turnover of pharmacy technicians as they retire or move on to other occupations.
Interested in starting a career as a Pharmacy Technician?
There has never been a better time to pursue your career goals! As a pharmacy technician, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of locations, earn a good salary, and make meaningful contributions to patient care and safety. Plus, you can start your career in less than a year and have a strong job outlook to look forward to.
If you’re ready to take the next step, we can help! At U.S. Career Institute, we offer a 100% online, self-paced pharmacy technician certificate program that prepares you to take the PTCE or EXCPT exam (with exam fees included in your tuition!). We also partner with Walgreens, which enables our students to participate in an externship to gain valuable hands-on experience. Check out more details about the program below: