Pharmacy tech programs in California give every one of their students the training to enter one of the best allied health careers available. There are a few ways to working as a pharmacy tech in California (we detail them for you below). Follow our guide below and you will get on track to attaining your career goal of becoming a California pharmacy technician.
California’s Best Pharmacy Technician Schools
What are the steps to become a pharmacy tech in California?
The four-step procedure that we show below is the path you can take for becoming a pharmacy tech in California. Since there are multiple ways to become a pharmacy tech in California, we will show each one of them and give information about them so you can see which one works for you. The time to get in to the California healthcare field is right now!
Step 1: Choose Your Pathway to Become a Pharmacy Tech in California
The very first step after you decide you want to become a pharmacy technician in CA is to pick your educational path. We go in to detail about each way you can go to get your pharmacy tech training in the state of California.
A HS diploma/GED is the initial requirement for entry in to training. If you meet that requirement, choose your training oath below.
Option 1 – Get a Pharmacy technology associate’s degree
Option 2 – Have at least 240 hours of training at a CA Pharmacy Board-approved training program
Option 3 – Train at a program that has a current accreditation from the (AHSP) American Society of Health System Pharmacists
Option 4 – Finish pharm tech education in the military
Option 5 – Take and complete training at a program accredited by the (ACPE) Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
Option 6 – Earn (CPHT) certification through the (PTCB) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Step 2: Register for Your Accredited CA Pharmacy Tech Courses
The education you get in pharmacy assisting must be accredited for your future success and to become certified in California as a pharmacy technician. Below is the list of California pharmacy tech schools that are accredited.
Accredited California Pharmacy Tech Programs
Eagle Rock College – Pharmacy Technician Course – Pharmacy Assisting Program 2607 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90041 323-254-2203
San Bernardino Valley College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 701 South Mount Vernon Avenue San Bernardino CA 92410-2798 909-384-4400
United Education Institute-UEI College Stockton – Pharmacy Technician Course 4994 Claremont Avenue Stockton CA 95207-0000 209-774-5300
United Education Institute-Encino – Pharmacy Assisting Program 5445 Balboa Boulevard Encino CA 91316-1951 818-380-5900
InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield – Pharm Tech Program 2480 Hilborn Road Suite 100 Fairfield CA 94534-6085 707-421-9700
North-West College-Riverside – Pharmacy Assisting Program 4550 La Sierra Ave Riverside CA 92503 951-351-7750
West Los Angeles College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 9000 Overland Avenue Culver City CA 90230-3519 310-287-4200
Foothill College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 12345 El Monte Rd Los Altos Hills CA 94022 650-949-7777
American College of Healthcare – Pharmacy Technician Course 6606 Pacific Blvd Ste 204 Huntington Park CA 90255 323-585-9000
Carrington College-San Leandro – Pharmacy Assisting Program 15555 East 14th St., Ste. 500 San Leandro CA 94578-1977 510-276-3888
Carrington College-Sacramento – Pharm Tech Program 8909 Folsom Blvd. Sacramento CA 95826 916-361-1660
College of the Sequoias – Pharmacy Assisting Program 915 S. Mooney Blvd Visalia CA 93277-2214 559-730-3700
City College of San Francisco – Pharmacy Assisting Program 50 Phelan Ave San Francisco CA 94112-1898 415-239-3000
Carrington College-Citrus Heights – Pharmacy Assisting Program 7301 Greenback Ln., Ste. A Citrus Heights CA 95621 916-722-8200
Institute of Technology – Pharmacy Technician Course 564 W Herndon Clovis CA 93612 559-297-4500
California Healing Arts College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 500 East Carson Plaza Drive, Suite 103 Carson CA 90746-7323 310-826-7622
CBD College – Pharm Tech Program 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Fourth Floor Los Angeles CA 90010 213-427-2200
Ventura Adult and Continuing Education – Pharmacy Assisting Program 5200 Valentine Rd Ventura CA 93003-0000 805-289-1744-1108
United Education Institute-UEI College San Marcos – Pharmacy Assisting Program 2085 Montiel Road San Marcos CA 92069-3587 760-690-5200
Charles A Jones Career and Education Center – Pharmacy Assisting Program 5451 Lemon Hill Ave Sacramento CA 95824-1529 916-433-2600-1000
American Career College-Ontario – Pharmacy Assisting Program 3130 East Sedona Court Ontario CA 91764 949-783-4800
UEI College-Riverside – Pharmacy Technician Course 1860 University Avenue Riverside CA 92507-5344 951-300-5500
UEI College-Gardena – Pharm Tech Program 661 West Redondo Beach Boulevard Gardena CA 90247 424-246-3000
Chaffey College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 5885 Haven Ave Rancho Cucamonga CA 91737-3002 909-652-6000
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill – Pharmacy Assisting Program 380 Civic Dr., Ste. 300 Pleasant Hill CA 94523 925-609-6650
Los Angeles ORT College-Los Angeles Campus – Pharmacy Assisting Program 6435 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90048 323-966-5444-210
Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista – Pharmacy Assisting Program 780 Bay Blvd Suite101 Chula Vista CA 91910 619-425-3200
East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program – Pharmacy Assisting Course 1501 W Del Norte St. West Covina CA 91790 626-472-5134
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education – Pharmacy Technician Program 14101 E. Nelson Ave La Puente CA 91746-0002 626-934-2801
Santa Barbara Business College-Ventura – Pharm Tech Program 4839 Market Street Ventura CA 93003 805-339-2999
North-West College-Pomona – Pharmacy Assisting Program 170 W Holt Ave Pomona CA 91768 909-623-1552
Career Networks Institute – Pharmacy Assisting Program 702 W Town and Country Rd Orange CA 92868-4710 714-437-9697
Downey Adult School – Pharmacy Assisting Program 12340 Woodruff Ave Downey CA 90241 562-940-6200
Santa Barbara Business College-Santa Maria – Pharmacy Assisting Course 303 E Plaza Dr Ste 1 Santa Maria CA 93454 805-922-8256
Santa Barbara Business College-Bakersfield – Pharmacy Assisting Program 5300 California Avenue Bakersfield CA 93309 661-835-1100
Baldy View Regional Occupational Program – Pharmacy Technician Program 1501 Bon View Avenue Ontario CA 91764-5500 909-980-6490
North-West College-Glendale – Pharm Tech Program 221 North Brand Glendale CA 91203 818-242-0205
InterCoast Colleges-Rancho Cordova – Pharmacy Assisting Program 9738 Lincoln Village Dr. Suite 120 Rancho Cordova CA 95827 916-714-5400
American Career College-Anaheim – Pharmacy Assisting Program 1200 N. Magnolia Ave. Anaheim CA 92801-0000 949-783-4800
North-West College-West Covina – Pharmacy Assisting Course 2121 W Garvey Ave West Covina CA 91790 626-960-5046
Cosumnes River College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento CA 95823-5799 916-688-7344
Santa Ana College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 1530 W. 17th Street Santa Ana CA 92706-3398 714-564-6000
North-West College-Long Beach – Pharm Tech Program 3799 E. Burnett Street Long Beach CA 90815-1770 562-498-4500
Cerritos College – Pharmacy Technician Program 11110 Alondra Blvd Norwalk CA 90650-6298 562-860-2451
Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education – Pharmacy Assisting Program 4640 N. Maine Ave Baldwin Park CA 91706-4221 626-939-4456
UEI College-Bakersfield – Pharmacy Assisting Course 3737 Rosedale Highway Bakersfield CA 93308-0000 661-427-4300
Valley College of Medical Careers – Pharmacy Assisting Program 8399 Topanga Canyon Blvd Ste 200 West Hills CA 91304 818-883-9002
American College of Healthcare – Pharmacy Assisting Program 11801 Pierce St., Suite 100 Riverside CA 92505 951-729-5320
Santa Rosa Junior College – Pharm Tech Program 1501 Mendocino Avenue Santa Rosa CA 95401-4395 707-527-4011
Galaxy Medical College – Pharmacy Assisting Program 6400 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Suite 115 North Hollywood CA 91606-1593 818-509-9970-105
Asher College – Pharmacy Technician Program 1215 Howe Ave Suite 101 Sacramento CA 95825 916-649-9600
Carrington College-Pomona – Pharmacy Assisting Course 901 Corporate Center Dr., Ste. 300 Pomona CA 91768-2642 909-868-5800
UEI College-Fresno – Pharmacy Assisting Program 3602 N. Blackstone, Suite 0268 Fresno CA 93726 559-475-5000
Imperial Valley College – Pharmacy Technician Program 380 E. Aten Road Imperial CA 92251-0158 760-352-8320
Bay Area Medical Academy – Pharm Tech Program 530 Bush Street #201 San Francisco CA 94108-3623 415-217-0077
American Career College-Los Angeles – Pharmacy Assisting Program 4021 Rosewood Avenue Los Angeles CA 90004 949-783-4800
United Education Institute-West Covina – Pharmacy Assisting Program 339 N. Azusa Avenue West Covina CA 91731-2806 626-927-9000
North-West College-Santa Ana – Pharmacy Technician Course 1840 E. 17th Street Santa Ana CA 92705-8680 714-550-8000
Carrington College-Stockton – Pharmacy Assisting Program 1313 West Robinhood Drive, Ste. B Stockton CA 95207 209-956-1240
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia – Pharmacy Assisting Program 8344 W Mineral King Ave Visalia CA 93291-9283 559-734-9000
Riverside County Office of Education-School of Career Education – Pharm Tech Program 47-336 Oasis St. Indio CA 92201 760-863-3054-3103
Carrington College-San Jose – Pharmacy Assisting Program 5883 Rue Ferrari, Ste. 125 San Jose CA 95138 408-960-0161
American University of Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Program 1600 East Hill St Signal Hill CA 90755-3612 562-988-2278-2001
University of Antelope Valley – Pharmacy Technician Program 44055 Sierra Highway Lancaster CA 93534 661-726-1911-125
High Desert Medical College – Pharm Tech Course 701 West Avenue K, Suite 123 Lancaster CA 93534-1134 661-940-9300
Step 3: Complete Your CA Pharm Tech Course
Once you take and complete your training, you will be able to move on to the last step in the process which is to take the certification examination.
Step 4: Pass the PTCE Certification Exam in California
Finish your training, pass the PTCE certification exam, and you can apply for your pharmacy assisting certification.
What is the typical pharmacy technician salary in California?
The data below from the website of bls.gov features the most current data on salary offered in California for pharmacy assisting.
| Location | Pay Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Hourly | $10.27 | $14.86 | $21.98 |
| Yearly | $21,370 | $30,920 | $45,710 | |
| California | Hourly | $12.32 | $18.13 | $28.05 |
| Yearly | $25,630 | $37,710 | $58,350 | |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA | Hourly | $15.57 | $24.22 | $37.09 |
| Yearly | $32,390 | $50,370 | $77,150 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $15.74 | $21.62 | $34.85 |
| Yearly | $32,740 | $44,970 | $72,490 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $12.73 | $21.37 | $31.76 |
| Yearly | $26,480 | $44,450 | $66,060 | |
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $13.02 | $21.17 | $33.77 |
| Yearly | $27,080 | $44,030 | $70,240 | |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | Hourly | $13.76 | $20.43 | $29.91 |
| Yearly | $28,610 | $42,500 | $62,220 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | Hourly | $14.15 | $20.40 | $23.03 |
| Yearly | $29,440 | $42,430 | $47,900 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | Hourly | $13.82 | $20.13 | $30.01 |
| Yearly | $28,740 | $41,860 | $62,420 | |
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $13.96 | $20.12 | $24.96 |
| Yearly | $29,050 | $41,850 | $51,910 | |
| North Coast Region | Hourly | $13.54 | $20.07 | $26.52 |
| Yearly | $28,170 | $41,750 | $55,160 | |
| Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA | Hourly | $13.53 | $20.02 | $31.70 |
| Yearly | $28,150 | $41,640 | $65,930 | |
| Mother Lode Region | Hourly | $12.87 | $19.93 | $23.89 |
| Yearly | $26,770 | $41,460 | $49,690 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $14.95 | $19.90 | $27.57 |
| Yearly | $31,090 | $41,390 | $57,350 | |
| Chico, CA | Hourly | $13.32 | $19.78 | $25.81 |
| Yearly | $27,700 | $41,140 | $53,690 | |
| Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA | Hourly | $13.56 | $19.33 | $28.84 |
| Yearly | $28,200 | $40,200 | $59,990 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | Hourly | $13.42 | $18.78 | $25.27 |
| Yearly | $27,900 | $39,060 | $52,570 | |
| Redding, CA | Hourly | $12.91 | $18.63 | $28.81 |
| Yearly | $26,840 | $38,760 | $59,920 | |
| Yuba City, CA | Hourly | $14.63 | $18.51 | $24.42 |
| Yearly | $30,430 | $38,510 | $50,780 | |
| Stockton, CA | Hourly | $11.74 | $18.32 | $27.87 |
| Yearly | $24,420 | $38,110 | $57,970 | |
| El Centro, CA | Hourly | $13.68 | $18.24 | $23.64 |
| Yearly | $28,450 | $37,930 | $49,180 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA | Hourly | $11.64 | $17.93 | $27.50 |
| Yearly | $24,210 | $37,280 | $57,200 | |
| Northern Mountains Region | Hourly | $11.85 | $17.58 | $27.42 |
| Yearly | $24,660 | $36,570 | $57,030 | |
| North Valley Region | Hourly | $13.41 | $17.43 | $24.27 |
| Yearly | $27,890 | $36,250 | $50,480 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $12.11 | $17.24 | $25.02 |
| Yearly | $25,190 | $35,860 | $52,050 | |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | Hourly | $10.08 | $17.00 | $25.13 |
| Yearly | $20,960 | $35,370 | $52,280 | |
| Madera-Chowchilla, CA | Hourly | $11.67 | $16.95 | $23.07 |
| Yearly | $24,260 | $35,260 | $47,990 | |
| Modesto, CA | Hourly | $11.76 | $16.90 | $27.23 |
| Yearly | $24,460 | $35,150 | $56,630 | |
| Fresno, CA | Hourly | $12.59 | $16.75 | $23.19 |
| Yearly | $26,180 | $34,840 | $48,230 | |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | Hourly | $11.58 | $16.67 | $23.22 |
| Yearly | $24,090 | $34,670 | $48,310 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $11.91 | $16.23 | $23.84 |
| Yearly | $24,770 | $33,750 | $49,590 | |
| Merced, CA | Hourly | $10.73 | $15.40 | $23.70 |
| Yearly | $22,330 | $32,030 | $49,310 |