Pharmacy Technician Schools and Programs in West Virginia

Pharmacy TechnicianWest Virginia, in spite of its small population has seen a steady demand for pharmacy technicians. Increasing dependence on prescription drugs leads to springing up of a number of pharmacies where pharmacy technicians are required. The average annual salary of a pharmacy technician in West Virginia is $32,230, which is lower than the national average. To join the 3,130 strong pharmacy tech workforce you require completing your training from any one of the 8 pharmacy technician schools in the state. To start, with we have ranked the Top 5 Pharmacy Technician schools in West Virginia based on our methodology, taking into account factors such as tuition cost, graduation rate and quality of education. West Virginia is one of the states that regulate its pharmacy technicians. Learn more about the top schools, state requirements and job outlook for pharmacy technicians in West Virginia, on this page.

5 Best Pharmacy Technician Schools in West Virginia for 2024

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

#1. Mountwest Community and Technical College - Huntington

With a history of more than 40 years, Mountwest Community & Technical at its campus based in Huntington, WV provides educational programs for in-demand careers. Mountwest offers a one-year program in Pharmacy Technology that will prepare you for a career to work as a pharmacy technician under a pharmacist. The coursework will teach you all the skills and knowledge you need to discharge your duties as a pharmacy technician. You will work at a college affiliated healthcare and retail facility to gain practical training experience. After you graduate from this program you can look for employment locally at A+ Pharmacy, CVS, Fruth Pharmacy, Griffith & Feil and Walgreens.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Type: Certificate
Program Length: 1 Year

#2. West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown, Bridgeport

West Virginia Junior College provides cutting edge education to ensure students succeed in today’s very demanding employment market. WVJC offers a Diploma program of 48 weeks and associate degree program of 72 weeks at both Morgantown and Bridgeport campuses. The programs are designed to help you successfully meet the demands of an entry level pharmacy technician job. On the job training which is part of the program will help you gain real world experience by applying all the skills you have learnt in the class. Upon completion of the program you will be ready and prepared to take the PTCB certification examination.Graduates of this program find employment at pharmacies in retail stores, home health, long term care, psychiatric care, mail order and hospitals.

Program Type: Diploma, Associate
Program Length: 48 Weeks, 72 Weeks


#3. Martinsburg College - Martinsburg

Martinsburg College located in Martinsburg, WV provides high quality career centric distance learning educational programs. Martinsburg College offers a certificate program in Pharmacy Technology. The coursework will help you fill prescriptions, dispense medications, mix medications, perform dosage calculations and adhere to laws and regulations. Upon completion of the program you will gain the knowledge and skills to assist a licensed pharmacist in a pharmacy setting. The coursework in this program will also prepare you to pass the PTCB examination and become a certified pharmacy technician that can give a boost to your salary and job opportunities.

Program Type: Certificate


#4. Ross Medical Education Center - Charleston, Morgantown

As part of its goal to provide quality education to students interested in pursuing health care careers, Ross Medical Education Center offers an ASHP accredited pharmacy technician certificate program at its Charleston and Morgantown campuses in the state of West Virginia. This program can be completed in 36 weeks. As a part of the program you are required to complete on the job training program to gain the much-needed real world experience of working in a pharmacy. By the end of this program you will learn how to efficiently work under a licensed pharmacist and perform all the job duties of an entry level pharmacy technician. Graduates of this program find employment in retail, hospital or other health care pharmacy setting.

Accreditation: ASHP
Program Type: Certificate
Program Length: 36 Weeks


#5. West Virginia University - Parkersburg

West Virginia University founded in 1971 is a community college located in Parkersburg, VA. The 1-year certificate program which is approved by the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy will prepare you to become an entry level pharmacy technician at a retail or hospital pharmacy. Medical Terminology, Pharmaceutical Calculations and Pharmacology form a part of the coursework. You will participate in practical training as part of the curriculum. To get into this program you need to have a high school diploma or GED and have no history of felony. Due to limited seats, applicants will be ranked based on their GPA and submission of application.

Program Type: Certificate
Program Length: 1 Year


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

To work as a pharmacy technician in West Virginia you are required to complete your training from a pharmacy technician school, get certified and obtain a licence from the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy.

PTCB CPhTs 1830
Registration/Licensure Required Yes
Training Required Yes
Certification Required Yes
Pharmacy Technician to Pharmacist ratio4 to 1
Continuing Education Required No
Certification Maintenance RequiredNo
(source: ptcb.org)

Education: To work as a pharmacy technician in West Virginia you need to complete your formal training from a pharmacy technician school. Prefer a school which is ASHP accredited. Additionally, decide whether you want to complete a Certificate, Diploma or Associate program. West Virginia has 8 schools that offer these programs. While a Certificate/Diploma will take you 9 months to complete, an Associate will take almost 2 years. Of course, the intensity of the curriculum and the cost of the program will vary accordingly. An Associate, compared to a Certificate/Diploma will cost a higher tuition fee; nonetheless will take you through a comprehensive curriculum. You can also opt to fill in the FAFSA for financial aid.

Certification: The state board requires you to be certified in order to work as a pharmacy technician. The PTCB and the ExCPT are the approved certifications in the state. There are currently 2,075 PTCB certified pharmacy technicians in the state.

Licensure: Pharmacy technicians are regulated in WV. You are required to apply to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy along with an application fee of $25.


Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician in West Virginia

Pharmacy technicians in WV earn an average annual salary of $32,230. The BLS projects an employment growth rate of 8.56% through 2020 to 2030. As a pharmacy tech in WV, you will find 270 job openings, annually.

Pharmacy Technicians Currently Working in WV 10 Year Job GrowthAnnual Vacancies Average Starting Salary Average Annual Salary
20202030% Growth
3,1303,2703,5508.56%270$22,970$32,230


Nearby States

  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Virginia

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