Pharmacy Technician Classes Online Free & Low Cost

Updated on 9/22/2025

A pharmacy technician is a healthcare professional who helps manage a retail or hospital pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist. Duties include filling prescriptions, processing insurance claims, and providing direct customer service.

Are you interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacy tech? Below, we'll share places you can take pharmacy technician classes online for free or at an affordable price.

Are There Free Online Pharmacy Technician Classes?

Yes, you can find free pharmacy technician training offered online that teaches students how to measure medications, label prescriptions, store drug products, and more. However, barring a few exceptions, these free courses don't qualify students to take a national certification exam from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which many employers require.

What Will I Learn in a Pharmacy Technician Class?

In a pharmacy technician class, students typically learn how to perform duties in retail pharmacies or healthcare settings. Coursework teaches students to:

• collect information to fill a prescription
• measure, package, and label prescriptions
• organize inventory
• accept payments and process insurance claims
• answer calls from customers and provide quality service
• support the pharmacists with their duties

Low-Cost and Free Pharmacy Technician Training

If you're ready to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician, read on. Below, we'll highlight top free and low-cost training options.

1. Pharmacy Technician Training

Alison, a free online learning platform, offers Pharmacy Technician Training, an intermediate-level course teaching pharmaceutical terminology and the fundamentals of pharmacy technician practices. In this three-module class, students learn about pharmacy operations, patient counseling, and specialized pharmaceutical fields.

Module three includes a course assessment. Learners who earn an 80% or higher on this assessment will become an Alison Graduate and can receive a digital or physical certificate for a fee.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: Self-paced

2. Free Pharmacy Technician Certification Practice Course

The Free Pharmacy Technician Certification Practice Course through Brainmeasures is an online class serving as a comprehensive study guide for students who want to prepare for the company's free pharmacy technician certification exam.

This course teaches students how to serve patients, receive medication orders, accept refill requests, dispense the right medications, store and deliver drug products, and more. After passing the Brainmeasures certification test, students can receive a hard-copy certificate for $69.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: Self-paced (one-year maximum from date of purchase)

3. Pharmacy Tech Course

Students interested in free pharmacy tech training can take a course at National Park College's Adult Education Center. The Pharmacy Tech program is an online training opportunity with periodic face-to-face meetings in Hot Springs, AR, at the former Gardner School campus.

This program helps learners secure certification in as little as four weeks. To enroll in this course at no cost, students must be Arkansas residents who are at least 18 years old.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: As little as four weeks

4. Free Pharmacy Technician Training and Certification

Through CrossPurpose, a nonprofit organization based in Colorado, students in Denver who meet admission requirements can enroll in the Free Pharmacy Technician Training and Certification program. This two-part course includes free 12- to 14-week online training and a 130- to 200-hour in-person externship.

Students learn how to prepare medications, submit insurance claims, and provide quality customer service. Upon completion, enrollees will be ready to take the PTCB national exam or the NHA Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).

• Cost: Free
• Course length: 12 to 14 weeks of online training

5. Diploma in Pharmacy Technician

Through Alison, students can take the free Diploma in Pharmacy Technician course that teaches the principles of pharmacy practice and how to recognize common physical disorders. Enrollees also learn how to dispense correct medications, treat the systems of the body, and preserve patient confidentiality.

Students who pass the course assessment at the end of this 13-module course with an 80% or higher will have the choice to receive a downloadable or physical diploma.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: Self-paced

6. Pharmacy Technician Program

At Bucks County Community College, students can enroll in a 75-hour didactic Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program, conducted online over Zoom and in-person on specified days. Enrollees are prepared to take the national certification exam from the PTCB.

This program may be free for students who qualify for funding via PA CareerLink. Veterans and their spouses living in Bucks County or Montgomery County can attend free of charge (funding covers tuition, books, and the certification exam).

• Cost: Free for qualifying veterans, their spouses, and students receiving funding through PA CareerLink; $2,250 for other students
• Course length: Undisclosed

7. Pharmacy Technician Free Certification Training

York County Community College offers a free accelerated pharmacy technician certification training program to help students prepare for the PTCB CPhT certification exam. Topics covered include pharmacy law, medication calculations, drug actions, and adverse drug reactions.

Learners must attend required Zoom meetings online every other Monday evening. An optional in-person BLS training is also available. Enrollment is open to Maine residents who are at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Cost: Free
• Course length: About five months

8. Pharmacy Technician Course

In Piedmont Community College's 12-week pharmacy technician course, students take steps toward a career as professional pharmacy technicians through asynchronous online coursework (an initial in-person meeting is required for local students), preparing them to sit for the PTCB national certification exam.

The program is 192 hours and allows enrollees to access instructional materials 24/7. Coursework explores pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacy tech administrative duties, how to provide patient care, and more.

• Cost: $185 registration fee (additional costs for textbook and certificate exam fee); scholarships are available
• Course length: Self-paced (usually completed in 12 weeks)

9. Online Pharmacy Technician Course & Certification 

Phlebotomy Career Training offers a 100% online pharmacy technician course that teaches the standards of patient confidentiality, symbols used in prescriptions and drug orders, and arithmetic calculations for usual dosage determinations.

Enrollees complete 115 hours of course content covering over 25 individual course topics. Perks of this course include receiving a pharmacy technician certificate, a complementary six-month voucher for the national certification exam through the PTCB or National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and a study guide.

• Cost: $650
• Course length: Self-paced (As little as five weeks with a six-month maximum)

10. Online Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program

Through the U.S. Career Institute, students can prepare for a pharmacy tech career through its self-paced, online pharmacy technician training. This program, which can be completed in as little as four months, helps students qualify for national exams through the PTCB or the NHA.

Coursework focuses on pharmaceutical terminology, dosage calculations, insurance verifications, and beyond. After graduating, students who meet standard requirements can participate in an 80-hour Walgreens externship at no additional cost.

• Cost: $1,079 (when paid in full - payment plans are available)
• Course length: As little as four months (self-paced)

How We Rank Courses

Our team rigorously vetted the courses in this ranking list to confirm that each meets quality standards based on the following criteria:

• Course cost: Each course in this list is free or offered at an affordable cost.
• Course value: These courses provide valuable pharmacy tech training, and some assist with securing certification.
• Course provider reputation: We included courses from reputable providers known for preparing students for pharmacy tech careers.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Pharmacy Technician?

The length of a pharmacy technician program varies; however, three to five months is a common timeframe for training. Once students complete their training program and pass a certification exam, they'll qualify for employment with many employers. After starting this career, students can find free continuing education for pharmacy technicians on the PTCB website.

How To Get a Free Pharmacy Technician Certification

Are you looking for ways to find free pharmacy tech classes that lead to free certification? Here are options to consider.

Look for Employer-Sponsored Training Programs

A popular choice for students who want free pharmacy tech training is to pursue it through an employer. Companies like Walgreens and CVS Health offer training and certification programs that incorporate apprenticeships, enabling students to learn in the workplace.

The PTCB also offers the Employer Program, which works with employers interested in training workers. Through this program, businesses can pay workers' certification fees, automate credential verification, receive discounts on practice tools, and more.

Apply for State Workforce Development Grants

You might consider a state workforce development grant designed to help adults enter high-demand fields. In Missouri, students can pursue the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant, which pays apprenticeship or tuition costs when combined with financial aid.

In Indiana, the Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant covers tuition and mandatory fees for eligible high-value certificate programs (including health sciences programs) at specific institutions. This last-dollar grant kicks in after financial aid is applied.

Use Scholarships and Nonprofit Training Programs

Students who want to start a career as a pharmacy technician can explore scholarships at their institution or consider private scholarships that cover or reduce the cost of completing training and taking a national certification exam.

You could also look into nonprofit organizations offering training. For example, the Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. offers the free Pharmacy Technician Program through its partnerships with CVS Health and Baltimore City Community College (BCCC).

Consider Community Colleges With Tuition Assistance

Several community colleges, including Bucks County Community College and York County Community College, offer opportunities to become certified pharmacy technicians through free programs for qualifying learners. You can also find programs offering affordable tuition.

If you find a community college program that costs, consider seeking tuition assistance (e.g., scholarships, financial aid, etc.) to save. Depending on the school, you might be able to complete your studies for free.

Military and VA Benefits

Veterans are sometimes able to pursue pharmacy technician careers at no cost. For instance, students residing in Bucks County or Montgomery County can enroll in the Pharmacy Technician Certification Program at Bucks County Community College free of charge.

Military and VA benefits are additional ways students can lower costs. If you attend a school that accepts these benefits, look into ways you could use military tuition assistance or the GI Bill to get free training.

Discover Online Pharmacy Programs

Take the next step toward a pharmacy tech career by exploring programs on Learn.org. Contact schools of interest today to find out how they can help you achieve your career goals.