Pharmacy Technician

California Nurses Educational Institute · Rancho Mirage, CA

Cost: $12,900
Length: 36 weeks
Working 6 months later: 57%

Program names, program descriptions and occupation titles appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Everything else on this page is translated.

What happened to people who took this

People enrolled: 40

Small group — treat with caution

Finished the program: 79%Based on 19 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
Working 6 months later: 57%Typical California program: 69% of 1,690 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
Earnings in one quarter after: $8,640A single quarter of earnings, roughly three months, not a yearly salary. Do not compare it directly with the yearly pay shown for the occupation.Typical California program: $10,900 of 1,339 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.

The job this trains for

This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.

No regional figures for this program's city

Rancho Mirage is not one of the metropolitan or rural areas California names when it publishes wages and openings. A neighbouring area's figures would look exactly like a correct answer, so none are shown and the statewide figures stand alone. About half of California's programs are in this position.

Pharmacy Technicians

Job ads may call this: Compounding Technician · Accredited Pharmacy Technician · Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) · RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician)

Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.

Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Enter prescription information into computer databases.
Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data in computer.
Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.

Typical pay in California: $56,653per year
Projected openings: 41,220
Projected change: +8.2%
Usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent

Getting in

Experience needed first: None
Training after you are hired: 1 to 12 months

These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.

What people in this job actually studied

Most common: Started college, no degree — 34% of the people doing this work.

California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 3% of the people doing it went less far than that.

No high school diploma: 3%
High school diploma: 25%
Started college, no degree: 34%
Two-year degree: 17%
Four-year degree: 17%
Master's degree: 3%
Doctorate or professional degree: 1%

This counts people already doing this job, across the whole United States. Every other figure on this page is California's, and the federal government publishes no state version of this one. It is what people happen to have, not a rule about who gets hired. A small row does not mean you would be turned away, and a large one is not a promise of a job.

Program details

This program provides in-person instruction only.

This program is designed to prepare students for entry-level Pharmacy Technician positions for both retail and community pharmacy settings. A Pharmacy Technician, under the supervision of pharmacist, assists in day-to-day operations to prepare and provide medications to patients with related tasks in managing pharmacy, clinical, and business operations. CNEIs Pharmacy Technician programs curriculum is centered around passing the ExCpt exam. Students will be given two opportunities to pass the ExCpt exam. They can first take the exam prior to being placed on externship. If they do not pass, they are expected to take it again prior to completing their externship. To work as a Pharmacy Technician, the state of California requires you to have a Pharmacy Technician license issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Graduates must pass the ExCpt exam to be eligible for their Pharmacy Technician license. The program consists of six course levels of classroom theory and laboratory instruction totaling 540 hours and externship consisting of 240 hours for a total of 780 hours. The design of the program allows students to start at the beginning of level I through VI and complete all levels to be eligible for placement on a 240-hour externship rotation. Graduates receive a certificate upon successful completion of all graduation requirements. Successful passing of the ExCpt exam qualifies the graduate to apply for their Pharmacy Technician License with the state in order to secure employment. CNEI will assist the graduate with the submission of their application to the state.

Provider's website →

Someone else may be able to pay for this

This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-08-04). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.

The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California

A comprehensive center is where all the required partner programs can be reached; an affiliate site offers some of them. California's Employment Development Department directs people to CareerOneStop's finder to locate one. Contacting a center before traveling is worth it — the state notes that its own staff are not physically present at every location.

The rule: 20 CFR 678.305 — What is a comprehensive one-stop center? · 20 CFR 678.310 — What is an affiliated site? · California EDD — Office Locator

Indio Youth Opportunity CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 760-802-6059
44-199 Monroe StreetIndio, CA 92201about 10.7 miles away
Hours: Monday -Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Indio Workforce Development Center AJCCComprehensive center
Phone: 760-863-2500
44-199 Monroe StreetSuite BIndio, CA 92201about 10.7 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm Closed Holidays
Has a veterans' representative

Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.

Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List

How this gets paid for, and what to ask →

Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.

The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.

How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →