Bidwell Training Center logo, black circle variant with white BTC monogram and maroon center dot beside white wordmark Bidwell Training Center

Start Your Career With Pharmacy Technician Training in Pittsburgh, PA

No-Cost 6-Month Pharmacy Technician Training

Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
Length
6 Months
Education Level
Diploma
Work Experience
Externship
Tuition
$0*
Program Details No-Cost Training Careers Courses FAQs Testimonials

Begin Your No-Cost Pharmacy Technician Training

Pharmacy technicians support pharmacists with medication preparation, distribution, inventory, and other daily operations. It is detail-focused work where accuracy and safety matter.
At Bidwell, you’ll study pharmacology, practice calculations, use pharmacy technology, and prepare sterile and non-sterile compounds. This pharmacy technician program in Pittsburgh also includes a 4-week, 160-hour externship that lets you apply those skills in a pharmacy setting.
For eligible students, tuition is provided at no cost, helping remove financial barriers so you can focus on preparing for your future. With an 84% employment rate, Bidwell graduates leave ready to pursue opportunities in the healthcare field.
NEXT START DATE

October 12th, 2026

Is a Career as an Institutional Pharmacy Technician Right for You?

Take the Bidwell Pharmacy Technician Career Readiness Quiz

This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style, plus the career paths you’re a good fit for.

Get Your Career Training Readiness Score Now

The best way to see if Bidwell Training Center is the right fit for you is to come in and visit. Tour our facilities and meet with instructors. Book an Appointment Now or Get More Info.

Build Career-Ready Pharmacy Skills

Medication Preparation
Prepare prescriptions and support safe medication distribution.
Sterile Compounding
Practice sterile and non-sterile compounding techniques.
Pharmacy Calculations
Calculate dosages, conversions, infusion rates, and quantities.
Pharmacy Operations
Support inventory, order processing, technology, and quality assurance.

Learning in Action

Instructor-Led Classes
Build your knowledge with guidance from pharmacy professionals.
Pharmacy Lab Training
Practice medication preparation and compounding in a lab setting.
Technology Practice
Work with pharmacy software, automation, and dispensing systems.
Supervised Externship
Apply your training under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.

Get Program Details

Request your free program guide and get everything you need to take the first step.
Career Prospects
Next Start Dates
Tuition Costs
Funding Options
Get Program Details Now!
Free · No obligation · Takes 30 seconds

Program Schedule

Your training combines classroom instruction, pharmacy lab practice, and experience in an institutional pharmacy setting.

1
Classroom and Lab Training
26
weeks
Study pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, compounding, technology, and professional skills.
2
Supervised Externship
4
weeks
Apply your training in an institutional pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
Total Duration
6 Months
Get The Details
Externship

Put Your Pharmacy Skills into Practice

During your 4-week, 160-hour externship, you’ll apply what you learned in class, experience daily pharmacy operations, and build confidence before graduation.

You’ll train in an institutional pharmacy setting under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, gaining experience that complements your classroom training.
Learn more about the Externship

No-cost tuition

$0
tuition, fees & supplies
100%
of programs offered at no cost
0
loans or payment plans
What's covered
Eligible Pennsylvania residents with a high school diploma or GED train at no cost—thanks to funding from the State of Pennsylvania, private foundations, and individual donors. Accepted students automatically receive a one-time institutional grant, no separate application needed.
✓ Tuition
✓ Fees
✓ Uniforms & scrubs
✓ Supplies
✓ Textbooks
DescriptionAmount
Tuition$12,000
Application fee$0
Computer$310
Books$717
Student supplies$0
Lab fee$0
Certification test fee$0
Clearance fees$40
Student insurance$0
Uniform$220
Graduation fee$50
Sub-total required materials$1,247
Sub-total fees$90
Program total$13,337
Internal one-time institutional grant award$13,337
Balance due$0
Ready to see if you qualify?
✓
Pennsylvania resident
✓
HS diploma or GED
Get Program Details!

Learn from Working Professionals

Every instructor in this program brings hands-on industry experience into the classroom, backed by real credentials.
RPh
MP
Michael Palladini
Director, Institutional Pharmacy Technician Program
MBA
Robert Morris University
BS
Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University
BA
Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
CPhT
NT
Nakesha Tyler
Institutional Pharmacy Technician Program Instructor
CPT
Certified Pharmacy Technician
BJ
Bobbi Jeffries
Employment Coordinator & Professional Development Instructor, Institutional Pharmacy Technician
AAS
Human Services, Monroe Community College
AK
Andrew Krizman
Computer Applications Instructor & Allied Health Program Coordinator
CU
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Where Your Pharmacy Training Can Take You

Employment of Pharmacy Technicians is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 49,000 openings projected nationwide each year.**

Is a career as a pharmacy technician right for you? Take our Career Training Readiness Quiz. It's free, quick and reveals your strengths and social style, plus the training and positions you're best suited for.

Positions you may pursue include: 

Hospital · Health Systems
Hospital Pharmacy Technician
Help prepare and distribute medications throughout a hospital.
Specialty Pharmacies
Compounding Pharmacy Technician
Prepare medications under pharmacist supervision.
Long-Term Care · Senior Care
Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician
Support medication preparation and distribution for care facilities.
Insurance · Pharmacy Benefits
Pharmacy Claims Technician
Review medication information and support benefit processing.
Hospitals · Pharmacies
Pharmacy Inventory Technician
Track medication inventory, orders, storage, and supplies.

Our Employer Partners

Bidwell Training Center partners with leading healthcare organizations across the region to connect graduates with real job opportunities. Some of our partners include:
Allegheny Health Network
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Grane Rx

Prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam

Completing the program prepares you to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

Your certification preparation course covers pharmacy calculations, drug classifications, laws and regulations, medication safety, order processing, inventory, pharmacy technology, and compounding. The PTCE is a national exam, and earning this certification can support opportunities beyond Pennsylvania, although requirements vary by state.
Pharmacy Technician
CPhT
Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential, shows you're qualified to assist pharmacists in different settings.

Get Program Details

Request your free program guide and get everything you need to take the first step.
Career Prospects
Next Start Dates
Tuition Costs
Funding Options
Get Program Details Now!
Free · No obligation · Takes 30 seconds

Courses

Build the clinical, administrative, and professional skills healthcare employers look for through hands-on training and coursework. Here is a look at the coursework:

What Our Graduates Say

Thanks to Bidwell, I was familiar how I should do the work... all the things that Bidwell really prepare you to the professional life.
Read more
MM
Mario Israel Salgado Martinez, Institutional Pharmacy Technician graduate
75%
Ready?

Is a Career as an Institutional Pharmacy Technician Right for You?

Take Our Career Training Readiness Assessment
This fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style, plus the career paths you’re a fit for.
Take The Quiz

Frequently Asked Questions

An Institutional Pharmacy Technician supports pharmacists in settings like hospitals by assisting with medication preparation, inventory control, and ensuring proper medication distribution in clinical environments.

Explore the Courses

Yes. Upon successful completion, students are fully prepared to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), a key credential for pursuing employment as a Pharmacy Technician.

The program is typically completed within 6 months, running Monday through Friday and combining classroom and lab learning with hands-on training during 4-week externship under a registered pharmacist.

Learn About Career Services

No prior experience is necessary. The program is designed for individuals new to the pharmacy technician field, covering everything from pharmacy mathematics to advanced compounding techniques.

Take the Free Career Readiness Survery

Graduates can pursue careers in hospitals, long-term care facilities, specialty pharmacies, insurance companies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, and clinical settings, working under licensed pharmacists to manage medications and support patient care.

Get Program Details

Is a Rewarding Career as a Pharmacy Technician Right For You?

If you’re interested in learning more about Pharmacy Technician careers and exploring whether Bidwell Training Center is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information. Our friendly and knowledgeable Admissions team is here to answer your questions and guide you through everything from enrollment to courses.
Get Program Info!
For immediate questions, call 412-402-9761

*For accepted Pennsylvania resident students, tuition, fees, uniforms, supplies, and textbooks are fully covered through state funding.

**https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm