Earn an associate degree or certificate in the Pharmacy Technician program at CNM and pursue work in hospitals, clinics, and retail or mail-order pharmacies.
If you are interested in a career where you help prepare and distribute medications, maintain drug inventories, and manage patient records, CNM’s Pharmacy Technician program is the perfect fit.
As a Pharmacy Technician, you will work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist in settings like hospitals, community pharmacies, mail order, and specialty pharmacies. Your role will involve critical, hands-on tasks that support pharmacists, but do not require the same level of professional judgment.
By completing CNM's Pharmacy Technician program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB®). After gaining one year of experience as a PTCB-Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) in a sterile compounding environment, you can take the Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician™ (CSPT™) exam through PTCB®.
The program’s goal is to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and qualifications to become a registered Pharmacy Technician with the New Mexico State Board of Pharmacy and achieve national certification. You will gain experience in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains, ensuring you meet the criteria set by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP)/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy regulations. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to enter the workforce and make a meaningful contribution to the healthcare field.
Read CNM student Farzana Gauba's success story in the Pharmacy Technician program.
The Pharmacy Technician Entry Level Certificate of Completion is an open-enrollment program. Start by filling out the interest form, and we will guide you through the next steps.
For the Pharmacy Technician Advanced Level Associate of Applied Science degree, you must have graduated from an ASHP/ACPE accredited program and gain departmental approval. Fill out the Department Approval and Override Request form to get started. If you have already completed an accredited program, you may be eligible to shorten your time to graduation to fewer than six terms.
For any additional questions or guidance, contact us.
Financial barriers shouldn't hinder your education, which is why CNM provides a range of resources, including financial aid, scholarships, and flexible payment plans. Our dedicated Financial Aid and Scholarship staff is here to guide you through the process, helping you secure the funding you need for your degree or certificate.
With competitive tuition rates and support in navigating financial aid options, we’re committed to making your educational goals achievable, without the stress of financial constraints.
The Central New Mexico Community College Pharmacy Technician Program is jointly accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, MD 20814, Phone (866) 279-0681 and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), 135 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60603, Phone (312) 664-357 and is a PTCB-recognized sterile compounding education/training program.
| PTCB® Exam Pass Rates (by fiscal year, July-June) | Program | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 - current | 89% | 71% |
| 2020 - 2021 | No candidates | - |
| 2019 - 2020 | 82% | 62% |
| 2018 - 2019 | 86% | 58% |
National Certification Exam Candidate Eligibility:
National Certification (CPhT) Maintenance and Renewal: