How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Virginia

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Finding time for school as a working adult is sometimes a challenge.

You can find programs to teach you how to become a Pharmacy technician in Virginia in less than a year though.

Search Pharmacy Technician Programs

Get information on Pharmacy Technician programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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License Requirements To Become a Pharmacy Technician in Virginia

You must register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to work as a Pharmacy Technician.

The Board provides detailed information on what kind of Pharmacy Technician training you must receive before you register.

Options you have include completing a program accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

You also can seek education through the Career and Technical Education program sponsored by the Department of Education.

Two credentialing bodies that provide referrals the Board of Pharmacy approves of include the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Consider training requirements before signing up for school.

You also will need to undergo a background check and have already completed high school.

5 Pharmacy Technician Schools in Virginia

Keep in mind, the following school recommendations are only suggestions.

It’s up to you to verify their accreditations and credentials to see if they match with the state’s pharmacy board.

1. JT Pharmacy Training Program

This training center provides you with Pharmacy Technician career preparation accredited by the VA pharmacy board.

It also meets PTCB standards. JT Pharmacy Training Program 

Your JT training will cover pharmacy law and how to calculate medications.

In addition, you will learn the medication classification codes and prepare for work in both inpatient and outpatient environments.

You also have the chance to become skilled in sterile and non-sterile compounding.

This training also prepares you to handle insurance billing cases.

Moreover, you’ll know how to read drug labels and may end up assisting with IV preparations.

2.  Rasmussen University

This school offers an online training option and has several U.S. campuses.

You can earn a certificate and pass your PTCE or ExCPT certification exams once you complete this coursework.

This instruction also gives you a chance to earn an associate degree in a healthcare field, and you can transfer your certificate credits to that. Rasmussen University

Your training will only take you about nine months to complete.

It prepares you for what to expect when working in a retail pharmacy or at an inpatient or outpatient center.

You will learn how to perform any duties allowed, such as packaging and distributing prescription medications.

In addition, this training gives you the core medical background you need to understand the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare treatment procedures.

3. Chester Career College (CCC)

CCC offers a Pharmacy Technician Diploma, a credential you can earn in less than a year.

You’ll gain hands-on experience with patient interaction.Chester Career College (CCC)

In addition, you’ll know how to collect and gather patient medications for prescription packaging.

This coursework will also increase your understanding of the ethics and legal aspects of pharmaceutical work.

Equipment sterilization and career development are also part of the curriculum.

4. South College

The training you receive here could prepare you for a pre-pharmacy career.

You can complete the entire classroom portion online or take courses in person at multiple campuses. South College 

Perhaps you already took some certificate courses and want to expand your education.

This associate program can do that for you.

It also could become a stepping stone toward becoming a Licensed Pharmacist.

5. Piedmont Virginia College

It’s possible to apply for free tuition for this workforce training.

It’s a G3 program, which means you’d enroll with the objective of getting a job as soon as possible in mind. Piedmont Virginia College

Your Piedmont instruction will open up both healthcare facility and retail pharmacy employment options.

The coursework and practical experience you gain from this program will develop your skills in serving patients who need their medications.

Your time spent preparing to become a Pharmacy Technician will also introduce you to handling patient records.

In addition, you’ll know how to handle medication.

Pharmacy Technician Schools in Virginia

Top 5 Schools in Virginia

School NameAddress
JT Pharmacy Training Program313 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219
Rasmussen University1250 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA 22908
Chester Career College (CCC)751 W Hundred Rd, Chester, VA 23836
South College3904 Lonas Dr Knoxville, TN 37909
Piedmont Virginia College501 College Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Pharmacy Technician Salary in Virginia

Annual Salary Range:
$30K
$37K
$45K

Average Salary of Pharmacy Technicians in Virginia

City NameSalary
Virginia Beach$35,602
Norfolk$35,100
Chesapeake$35,000
Richmond$37,200
Newport News$34,900
Hampton$34,900
Alexandria$41,498
Portsmouth$35,100
Roanoke$34,500
Lynchburg$34,300
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Virginia

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA290$38,840$18.68$50,170$29,120
Charlottesville, VA430$43,970$21.14$56,730$35,300
Harrisonburg, VA400$41,910$20.15$48,580$35,100
Lynchburg, VA310$38,850$18.68$45,950$30,620
Richmond, VA2,370$41,740$20.07$50,550$34,820
Roanoke, VA540$40,040$19.25$47,000$30,770
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA140$40,880$19.65$49,710$31,740
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC2,160$40,720$19.58$50,190$31,190
Winchester, VA-WV250$40,220$19.34$47,460$33,450
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Pharmacy Technicians, OCC Code 29-2052, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Pharmacy Technician training in Virginia cost? 

You may not have to pay anything for your training if you join a workforce program.

Other programs may require some payment upfront.

Then, you get reimbursed, or you can apply for financial aid.

If you do pay for it yourself, it may cost you between $3,000-$5,000.

How long does VA Pharmacy Technician take? 

Certificate programs take an average of six to nine months.

Sometimes, you can find employment sooner than this and earn while you learn and work toward a certificate.

What can a Pharmacy Technician do and not do?

A Pharmacy Technician provides support to a pharmacist by handling patient prescription pickups, deliveries, etc.

They will also package and label medications.

In addition, they might count and measure dosages when supervised.

A Pharmacy Technician cannot provide advanced medical advice or write prescriptions.

However, they can answer basic questions as directed by a Licensed Pharmacist.

Where does a Pharmacy Technician find jobs?

You can usually look for openings at local pharmacies.

They’re typically in a department or convenient store.

However, you also may know of small, standalone medication dispensaries where you can work.

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