School of Pharmacy Technology

Overview

The future of pharmacy practice is rapidly evolving. Cleveland Clinic is a leader in the efforts to expand the role of pharmacy technicians. As one of the only accredited hospital-based technician schools in the country, the School of Pharmacy Technology is paving the way for new technician leaders. Cleveland Clinic's School of Pharmacy Technology has been designed to accomplish what no other pharmacy technician program has done before: Combining both didactic training with real, hands-on training – from day one.

Training today's pharmacy technicians, the Cleveland Clinic way.

Accreditation/approval

Cleveland Clinic feels that an important part of expanding the pharmacy practice model is expanding the role pharmacy technicians serve. This is accomplished by training, educating, and providing experience to technician students at a consistently high standard. As such, the Cleveland Clinic's School of Pharmacy Technology maintains full accreditation through the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

For accreditation inquiries, please contact:

• Jamie McLaughlin, CPhT
  mclaugj2@ccf.org

Program description

Cleveland Clinic is a multi-site, academic health-system with advanced clinical services and a world-wide presence. The Department of Pharmacy operates multi-site hospital, ambulatory, and specialty pharmacy services for Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic’s School of Pharmacy Technology operates in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic Department of Pharmacy.

Students at the School of Pharmacy Technology study in a state-of-the-art learning environment with instruction from some of the top industry professionals in the country. Students obtain the skills necessary to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and work in a pharmacy. Graduates of Cleveland Clinic’s School of Pharmacy Technology are well prepared to meet the needs of an expanding pharmacy practice. Students graduating from the Cleveland Clinic School of Pharmacy Technology may be considered for employment within the Cleveland Clinic.

Cleveland Clinic does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities, on the basis of age, gender, race, national origin, religion, creed, color, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ethnicity, ancestry, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Cleveland Clinic administers all programs and services without regard to disability and provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.

Faculty & Staff

Jamie McLaughlin, CPhT
Program Manager, School of Pharmacy Technology

Program Details

Grow your career

• Start your career in pharmacy with Cleveland Clinic’s Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Program. This 16-week, on-site apprenticeship combines structured education, hands-on training and real-world pharmacy experience — giving you the opportunity to learn while building your career as a Cleveland Clinic employee.

An accredited pharmacy technician training program

• Cleveland Clinic’s Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
  • This accreditation reflects a commitment to providing high-quality pharmacy technician education and training that prepares apprentices for the responsibilities of pharmacy practice.

What you can expect

• 16-week accelerated program: Complete your pharmacy technician education and training in just 16 weeks through an accelerated program designed to prepare you for a career in pharmacy.
• Learn while you work:  As a Cleveland Clinic pharmacy technician apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience while completing your required education and training. You’ll learn directly from experienced pharmacy professionals and apply what you learn to real pharmacy practice.
• On-site, hands-on training experience: experience pharmacy practice firsthand through hands-on simulation and training at Cleveland Clinic. You’ll develop skills in both clinical and operational pharmacy practice while learning about the important role pharmacy technicians play in patient care.
• Real-world pharmacy experience: Your training includes experiential learning within Cleveland Clinic pharmacy settings. This experience allows you to strengthen your skills, build confidence and see how pharmacy operations work in a real healthcare environment.

More than a training program

• As a Cleveland Clinic employee, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow while being part of a world-renowned healthcare organization.
• You’ll have access to the support, resources and professional environment of Cleveland Clinic while developing the knowledge and skills needed to become a successful pharmacy technician.

Build Your Future in Pharmacy | Your Pharmacy Career Starts Here

Join Cleveland Clinic, learn from experienced professionals and build the skills you need to grow your future in healthcare.

Photos of Our Students

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How to Apply

Application and requirements

The following criteria are used to determine eligibility into the program:

1. Completion of program application.
2. Copy of high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
3. Students must be at least 18 years of age upon application.
4. Completion of a phone and on-site interview.
5. Successful background and reference check.

Admission

Cleveland Clinic's School of Pharmacy Technology is currently accepting applications for online classes. Interested candidates must submit applications at least 60 days prior to the scheduled program start date. All applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions by email. Selected students must complete Cleveland Clinic on-boarding requirements, including health, drug and background screenings. All selected students are required to register with the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy as a trainee. This registration costs $25 and is good for only a year.

Applications for our cohorts open during specific times of the year. Upcoming cohort and recruitment dates are included below. Applications are available at Careers at Cleveland Clinic when recruitment begins. 

Pharmacy Technician Careers

Employment & salary expectations

Cleveland Clinic, along with other pharmacies and health care organizations, continues to provide opportunities for pharmacy technicians in a variety of pharmacy practice settings. Pharmacy technicians support pharmacists and pharmacy teams in medication distribution, medication safety, pharmacy operations, patient care services and other expanding areas of pharmacy practice.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2026, pharmacy technician employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Approximately 30,100 new pharmacy technician positions are projected to be added during this period, with approximately 44,700 openings each year, on average. Many of these openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation or retire.

The BLS reports that approximately 471,200 pharmacy technicians were employed nationally in 2025.

Salary expectations

As of May 2025, the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $45,750, or approximately $22.00 per hour.

Pharmacy technician wages also vary by practice setting. In May 2025, BLS reported the following median annual wages:

These figures demonstrate the variety of employment opportunities available to pharmacy technicians across community, hospital, ambulatory and other health care settings.

Meet a Pharmacy Technician

• Meet Denise – and learn why she became a Pharmacy Technician

Requirements for national certification

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential. To be eligible for PTCB certification, applicants must:

• Complete a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program or meet the alternative pathway of equivalent pharmacy technician work experience.
• Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
• Fully disclose any criminal and State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure actions.
• Comply with all applicable PTCB certification policies.

PTCB's current eligibility requirements allow candidates to qualify through completion of a PTCB-recognized education/training program or through at least 500 hours of equivalent pharmacy technician work experience.

Requirements for Ohio pharmacy technician registration

In Ohio, pharmacy technicians must be registered with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy before performing pharmacy technician duties. Ohio recognizes different registration categories, including technician trainee, registered pharmacy technician and certified pharmacy technician.

For Certified Pharmacy Technician registration in Ohio, applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent foreign diploma.
• Complete an approved pharmacy technician training program.
• Hold an active national pharmacy technician certification from PTCB or ExCPT.
• Complete the required criminal records check.
• Apply for registration through the Ohio Board of Pharmacy's eLicense system.
• Receive an active registration status before performing pharmacy technician duties.

Ohio specifically recognizes approved pharmacy technician training programs, including qualifying ASHP/ACPE.

Pharmacy technicians at Cleveland Clinic are prepared to work in many pharmacy settings, including:

• Inpatient Pharmacy
• Ambulatory Pharmacy
• Pharmacy Automation
• Pediatric Pharmacy
• Intensive Care Pharmacy
• Pharmacy Purchasing and Inventory
• Controlled Drug Services
• Pharmacy Billing
• Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
• Chemotherapy
• Specialty Pharmacy

The Cleveland Clinic offers unique opportunities for growth and advancement for pharmacy technicians in fields like Leadership, Automation, Inventory and Purchasing and Medication Safety.

Request Information

Please complete this form if you are looking for more information about the School of Pharmacy Technology. It will also allow you to stay connected with the School of Pharmacy Technology and receive important information about admissions, and information from the program.

Pharmacy Technician Apprentice Program

The Pharmacy Technician Apprentice Program is a 16-week learn-and-earn program designed to provide eligible candidates with pharmacy education, hands-on training, and real-world experience at Cleveland Clinic.

Apprentices are employed by Cleveland Clinic during the program while completing structured education, hands-on simulation, and experiential learning. The program provides an opportunity to explore a career in pharmacy technology while gaining valuable experience in a health-system pharmacy environment.

The program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and is designed to provide high-quality education and training for individuals entering the pharmacy technician profession.

Three essentials of the Pharmacy Technician Apprentice Program

1. Earn – Receive paid employment while participating in the apprenticeship.
2. Learn – Complete structured pharmacy technician education and hands-on training.
3. Prepare – Build the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to pursue pharmacy technician certification and future career opportunities.

Program curriculum and benefits

The 16-week program combines 12 weeks of online learning with hands-on simulation and experiential training.

• 12-week online learning curriculum covering essential pharmacy technician topics, including pharmacy principles, medication safety, pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, pharmacy law, automation, inventory management, sterile and non-sterile compounding, and other areas of pharmacy practice.
• Hands-on simulation training in a state-of-the-art learning environment to introduce apprentices to pharmacy practice, workflow, technology, and the role of the pharmacy technician.
• Experiential learning in Cleveland Clinic pharmacy settings, providing exposure to a variety of inpatient and outpatient pharmacy practice areas.
• Learn from experienced pharmacy professionals while developing practical skills in a real healthcare environment.
• Earn while you learn as a Cleveland Clinic employee during the apprenticeship.
• Employee benefits available during the apprenticeship, based on applicable Cleveland Clinic employment eligibility.
• ASHP/ACPE-accredited education and training designed to prepare participants for the pharmacy technician profession.

Explore your future in pharmacy

The program is designed for individuals who are interested in exploring pharmacy as a career and want to gain education and hands-on experience in a leading healthcare organization.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Gain valuable pharmacy experience
• Learn from experienced pharmacy professionals
• Develop practical pharmacy technician skills
• Experience a variety of pharmacy practice settings
• Complete structured pharmacy technician education
• Prepare for pharmacy technician certification
• Earn while learning
• Gain experience as part of the Cleveland Clinic team

Applicant eligibility

Qualified candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

• High school diploma
• Must be 18 years of age at the time of application

Applicants must also successfully complete the required background and health screenings. Prospective candidates must complete the application and interview process as part of the selection process.

Please Note: Applications missing required documentation, incomplete applications, and/or applications received after the deadline will not be considered.