How Much Do Pharmacy Technician Programs Cost?
82 accredited schools published a flat price for their pharmacy tech program to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023–24. Tuition and fees plus books and supplies ranged from $2,062 to $32,240; the median was $17,400. The other 252 schools we list bill by the credit hour or did not report a program price.
Updated October 2026 · Source: IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, program prices 2023–24
- Median program cost
- $17,400tuition, fees, books, supplies
- Lowest published price
- $2,062
- Highest published price
- $32,240
- Schools with a price
- 82of 334 listed
Pharmacy Technician Programs cost by type of school
| School type | Schools | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 11 | $5,855 | $2,062 | $11,207 |
| Private for-profit | 71 | $17,906 | $2,200 | $32,240 |
Only school types with at least 3 priced schools are shown. Public schools here are mostly community colleges and public career-technical centers.
Pharmacy Technician Programs cost by state
States with at least 3 schools that published a program price, lowest median first. "Schools listed" is the number of programs on that state's page; many of them charge by the credit hour instead of a flat price, so the two counts differ.
| State | Priced schools | Schools listed | Median | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician Programs in Florida | 9 | 32 | $7,239 | $3,358 |
| Pharmacy Technician Programs in Louisiana | 9 | 17 | $15,895 | $15,200 |
| Pharmacy Technician Programs in Nevada | 3 | 3 | $17,019 | $15,499 |
| Pharmacy Technician Programs in Texas | 13 | 38 | $17,400 | $9,084 |
| Pharmacy Technician Programs in Alabama | 3 | 4 | $18,189 | $18,189 |
| Pharmacy Technician Programs in California | 30 | 64 | $18,491 | $2,062 |
Fewer than 3 priced schools, so not ranked: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
Cheapest pharmacy technician programs by published price
The 10 lowest total prices among the 82 schools that reported one for 2023–24, tuition and fees plus books and supplies, cheapest first. Prices change every year: confirm the current figure with the school, and use its net price calculator (linked on each school page) to estimate what you would pay after aid.
| # | School | Location | Total | Tuition & fees | Books & supplies | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ABC Adult School | Cerritos, CA | $2,062 | $1,525 | $537 | 12 months |
| 2 | Access Careers | Hempstead, NY | $2,200 | $1,900 | $300 | 3 months |
| 3 | South Dade Technical College-South Dade Skills Center Campus | Homestead, FL | $3,358 | $2,858 | $500 | 12 months |
| 4 | Florida Panhandle Technical College | Chipley, FL | $3,951 | $3,066 | $885 | 10 months |
| 5 | Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch, CA | $4,227 | $3,950 | $277 | 4 months |
| 6 | Riveroak Technical College | Live Oak, FL | $5,496 | $3,886 | $1,610 | 11 months |
| 7 | Martinsburg College | Martinsburg, WV | $5,545 | $5,545 | — | 8 months |
| 8 | Scioto County Career Technical Center | Lucasville, OH | $5,690 | $5,084 | $606 | 8 months |
| 9 | Western Maricopa Education Center | Glendale, AZ | $5,855 | $5,670 | $185 | 6 months |
| 10 | Downey Adult School | Downey, CA | $5,861 | $4,499 | $1,362 | 8 months |
Length is the schedule the school reported (82 of the 82 priced schools reported one).
What the price does and does not include
The figures on this page are what each school reported to IPEDS for its pharmacy tech program: tuition and required fees, plus books and supplies. Schools that charge by the credit hour, such as many community colleges, report an annual tuition rate instead, which is why they are counted as listed but not priced.
Budget separately for the certification exam (national certifications: PTCB’s CPhT (via the PTCE) and NHA’s ExCPT), a background check, immunizations and a physical, uniforms and shoes, and transport to clinical sites. Ask each school for an itemized cost sheet; the ones that have a net price calculator link it on their school page here.
Ways to pay less
- Start with public schools. Community colleges and public career-technical centers had the lowest median price in this data ($5,855 at 11 schools). Check the state table above for the cheapest medians near you.
- Ask about federal student aid. Most schools in this data take part in federal student aid programs. Whether a short certificate qualifies depends on its length and the school, so ask the financial aid office before you enroll.
- Check your American Job Center. State workforce agencies fund training for in-demand occupations through local American Job Centers; ask whether your program is on the state's eligible training provider list.
- Ask employers. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and pharmacy chains often pay for training or reimburse it after a hiring commitment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pharmacy technician programs cost?
Across 82 accredited schools that published a flat program price for 2023–24, tuition and fees plus books and supplies ranged from $2,062 to $32,240. The median was $17,400.
Is it cheaper to train at a public college?
In this data, yes. The median price at 11 public schools (community colleges and career-technical centers) was $5,855, versus $17,906 at 71 for-profit schools: a difference of $12,051. Public programs can have waiting lists and admission deadlines, so apply early.
What does the published price include?
Schools report the price of the whole program to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS): tuition and required fees, plus books and supplies. It does not include living costs, and it usually leaves out the certification exam fee, background check, immunizations and uniforms unless the school counts them as supplies. Ask for an itemized cost sheet before you enroll.
Does the price include the pharmacy technician exam?
Usually not. National certifications: PTCB’s CPhT (via the PTCE) and NHA’s ExCPT, and the testing vendor charges its own fee. Some schools build the first attempt into their supplies figure; most do not.
How long do pharmacy technician programs take?
Certificate programs commonly take a few months to a year; associate-degree programs take about 2 years.