Pharmacy Technician Schools and Programs in Maryland

With a population of 6 million, Maryland currently (2021) has 6,430 employed pharmacy technicians; the number is projected to shoot up to 9,090 by 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment of pharmacy technicians is on an all-time rise due to an increased demand for prescription medications and an enormous aging populace. The annual average salary of a pharmacy technician in Maryland is $37,840. The state has 8 schools which offer pharmacy technician education programs. From the limited choice of schools available in the state, you should look out for the best. We have ranked the Top 3 Pharmacy Technician Schools in Maryland, based on our methodology, which has taken factors such as tuition cost, graduation rate and overall quality of education offered into consideration. Read on to know more about the top schools, state requirements and job prospects for a pharmacy technician in Maryland.

2 Best Pharmacy Technician Schools in Maryland for 2024

(Following is a list of schools offering the best pharmacy technician programs in Maryland)

#1. Fortis College - Landover, Towson

Fortis is a private post-secondary institution with campuses spread over 15 states. Fortis offers a Pharmacy Technician diploma program at two of its Maryland campuses in Landover and Towson. Goal of this program is to provide you with strong skills and knowledge to successfully assist a licensed pharmacist thus ensuring smooth running of a pharmacy. You will learn how to read, fill and dispense medication. During the program you will also work in a real life like pharmacy setting to gain valuable experience.

Program Type: Diploma
Program Length:9 months

#2. Allegany College of Maryland - Cumberland, MD

Allegany College of Maryland (ACM), a small student friendly two-year public community college located in Cumberland, MD, provides high quality education at an affordable cost. You can earn a certificate in Pharmacy Technology in as little as 4 months at ACM. In this program you will learn all that is needed to work as a pharmacy technician with coursework ranging from concepts of pharmacology to using software/equipment currently used in big pharmacies. To gain valuable experience you will work around 18 hours each week for 10 weeks in a retail or institutional pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. At the end of the course you will be able to take and pass the pharmacy technician certification exam to meet Maryland requirements.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Type: Certificate
Program Length:4 Months

Programs Currently on Hold or Discontinued

Brightwood College - Baltimore

Allegany College of Maryland (ACM), a small student friendly two-year public community college located in Cumberland, MD, provides high quality education at an affordable cost. You can earn a certificate in Pharmacy Technology in as little as 4 months at ACM. In this program you will learn all that is needed to work as a pharmacy technician with coursework ranging from concepts of pharmacology to using software/equipment currently used in big pharmacies. To gain valuable experience you will work around 18 hours each week for 10 weeks in a retail or institutional pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. At the end of the course you will be able to take and pass the pharmacy technician certification exam to meet Maryland requirements.

Program Type: Certificate
Program Length:4 Months

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Hagerstown Community College - Hagerstown, MD

Hagerstown Community College (HCC) founded in 1946 spread over 319 acres is a two-year public community college offering more than 100 programs of study. HCC offers a certificate course in Pharmacy Technology that can be completed in 8 months. To churn out skilled and knowledgeable pharmacy technicians the program combines instruction, lab work and externship. You will be able to dispense medications, mix medications and other functions that you will be required to do to work as a pharmacy technician. Coursework is designed in a way that you can sit and pass the PTCB exam.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Type: Certificate
Program Length:8 months

What are the Requirements to Work as a Pharmacy Technician in Maryland?

Formal school training is required in the state of Maryland if you are not certified. Alternatively you if you are already working then to obtain a license you can complete a board approved training program which includes 160 hours of on the job experience within the first six months of employment and then apply to the Maryland Board of Pharmacy for your license.

Education: To complete your pharmacy technician education you need to comply with the following:

Step 1: Acquire a high school diploma or GED.

Step 2: Complete a certificate/diploma or an associate degree curriculum.

When selecting which school to attend you need to the following guidelines will help you:

Accreditation: Accreditation ensures that a school sticks to approved professional and permissible standards; hence, it is crucial that you go for a pharmacy technician program that is recognized by a nationally certified organization such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Type of Program: Maryland has 8 pharmacy technician schools; all of them offer a certificate/diploma program of 9 months. It is essential that you understand the duration, the syllabus and the fee arrangement of each program and decide on what is best-suited for you.

Financial Aid: Colleges in Maryland provide financial aid packages for students which consist of loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study made to meet student requirement. You must apply for financial aid and meet the eligibility pre-requisites.

Certification: Certification is mandatory in Maryland. You need to pass the board approved exam in order to get certified and be able to work as pharmacy technician in Maryland. Approved certification exams in the state include PTCB (PTCE) and/or ICPT (ExCPT).

Licensure: Getting a license is a must in the state of Maryland. These are the pre-requisites:

• You must be 17 years old or older.

• Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent or may be currently enrolled in high school with good academic standing.

• Submit a written application requesting registration as a Pharmacy Technician at the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy.

• Submit to a criminal background evaluation. You need to pay a fee of $38 for that.

• Include a proof of certification in your application if you are already a certified pharmacy technician.

• If you are not a certified pharmacy technician yet, you need to provide proof that you have successfully completed a Board approved training program and have passed the Board approved exam as well.

• $45 non-refundable registration fee.

• The license expires on the last day of the birth of the registrant. You need to renew on the 1st year after the initial registration.

Subsequently, you can renew you license every 2 years with a renewal fee of $45.

Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician in Maryland

The average annual salary of a pharmacy tech in Maryland is $37,840. The BLS has estimated that employment for pharmacy techs is likely to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2030.

Holy Cross Health, Anne Arundel Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, Trivergent Health Alliance, MedStar Health, Omnicare and CVS Health are big recruiters in Maryland.

Nearby States

North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania

Tennessee Virginia West Virginia

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