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By University HQ Staff Writers
Edited by Evelyn Keener
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Compare Popular Online Pharmacy Programs

Overview of an Associates in Pharmacy

A two-year associate degree in a pharmacy technician program is a great way to start a career. Whether taken online or on campus, this degree prepares students for top-paying positions as pharmacy technicians and can also serve as a foundation for further education to assist pharmacists or become one in the future. Now is a great time to pursue a career in healthcare. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects strong growth in nearly every healthcare occupation, whether assisting pharmacists or working as a pharmacy technician. With an associate degree in pharmacy, you'll be in high demand.

An associate degree in pharmacy or pharmaceutical science is a two-year program that either focuses on the foundations of pharmacy or trains future pharmacy technicians and assistants. Technician degrees are commonly available through online platforms. Some programs emphasize chemistry and biology for further pharmaceutical studies, while others focus on training pharmacy technicians. Courses typically include human anatomy, calculus, biology, medical ethics, healthcare terminology, medication efficacy and interactions, and possibly organic chemistry.

Assuming that your associate degree is from an accredited institution, you can use your pharmacy program in an application for a four-year pharmacy management degree or other related degree programs. However, your pharmacy technician degree is best-suited to a bachelor's degree in health sciences while an AS in Pharmacy is tailored to further work in pharmacy education, such as a pharmacy management degree. Regardless, your associate degree will be ample foundation for a long career.

PROS

An associate degree in pharmacy or pharmaceutical science offers many benefits, with the main advantage being the ability to start your career immediately. Whether focused on pharmacy technician or assistant roles, or designed to support further graduate studies in pharmaceutical science or pharmacy management, a two-year degree allows you to begin working right away.

Both types of degrees serve as a solid foundation for a career, particularly in pharmacy technician roles, where you'll gain valuable experience for future positions or further education.

Another benefit of an associate degree is that it can be completed in just two years. If you finish an online program quickly, you can take time off to work and apply your knowledge. With a degree, you'll earn a higher salary than those without one, and your experience will help when pursuing new jobs or a bachelor's degree.

CONS

There are drawbacks to an associate degree in pharmacy. While it may lead to a higher pay rate than someone without a degree, your earnings and promotion potential may be limited. This can be frustrating after putting in the effort to earn the degree. Additionally, an online technician degree may not be as suited for continuing education, though it offers a convenient way to complete your studies.

You might also find that your pay isn't as high as expected, as there are no guarantees that a degree will lead to significant earnings. Additionally, you'll need at least two more years of schooling to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree to qualify for pharmacist positions. Even if you seek non-academic certifications, many require a bachelor's degree or higher. An associate degree in pharmacy is also unlikely to help you attain relevant state licenses.

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Certificate Vs. Associate's

If you are considering a career as a pharmacy technician, you might see many opportunities to work on a certificate program. This is a valid choice but you should compare a certificate with an online or traditional associate degree program. After all, most schools that offer a pharmacy tech certificate also offer an online associate degree. While your certificate will take less time and still land you a job at a pharmacy, you will also find that your career stalls out at this level. You can take a bit more time to finish your associate degree and have a stronger foundation for the future.

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What Associates Degrees are Available Online?

  • Associate of Science in Pharmacy/Pre-Pharmacy:
    This type of pharmacy degree is designed to prepare you for future studies that lead to the position of pharmacist. AS degrees typically focus on purely analytical STEM subjects. In this case, you’ll need to take several chemistry classes, which means you may not be able to find one of these programs fully online.
  • Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technician:
    An applied science degree is generally one that trains you for an occupation and relies on information from that occupation rather than academic research. Thus, you might find it difficult to transfer credits from such a program, in case you desire a baccalaureate degree later.
  • Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technician:
    This degree is designed to groom you and your fellow students for a career as a pharmacy technician. If you are considering a baccalaureate degree, discuss how your credits might transfer. This way you can have a reasonable expectation for your future academic career. These are the most commonly found online pharmacy associate degrees.
  • Associate of Arts in Pre-Pharmacy:
    An AA degree in pre-pharmacy is likely to be functionally identical to an Associate of Science. While arts degrees generally indicate that the curriculum weighs heavier on humanities topics, pre-pharmacy degrees will likely be weighted to STEM subjects such as human biology and chemistry.
  • Associate of Science in Pharmacy Technology:
    Your AS degree is sure to provide a solid foundation for a career in health sciences. This degree type will likely focus you on issues directly related to your career goals. That is, your coursework will not feature many chemistry or hard-science classes. Rather, you will study pharmacology and pharmacy systems. This may make it easier to find this degree online. If you decide to become a pharmacist later, this means that you might need to take all of those upper-level chemistry courses, and their prerequisites, too.

Admission Requirements

Each school will have its own prerequisites for an online Associate in Pharmacy program. It also depends on whether your intention is to enter a pre-pharmacy or pharmacy technician program. For pharmacy tech, you might need to pass college algebra, introductory anatomy, and a college writing course. Pre-pharmacy students might need to up the ante with courses like calculus I, physics, and anatomy and physiology.

On top of this, your department might have a minimum GPA requirement. This requirement could be anywhere from a 2.0 to 3.5, on a 4.0 scale. However, GPA requirements like this are not common, especially in pharmacy tech programs. Online students will need to send in the same documents as those students who choose to attend in-person.

How long does it take to earn these degrees?

Associate degrees for pharmacy technician or pre-pharmacy are designed to take approximately two years, as a general rule. However, some students take up to four years to complete their associate degrees. However, you should try to avoid prolonging your studies.

When you apply for a degree program in pharmacy, you should have a game plan that will keep you in school on a full-time basis. Include your plan for financing your school work and make a schedule that allows you to study while also attending to your other obligations. Make sure that school remains at the top of your priorities. After all, a degree will have more long-term impact than many short-term concerns.

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Potential Careers in Pharmacy with an Associates

  • Hospital Pharmacy Technician
    Your two-year degree can help you land a job in a hospital pharmacy. In this position you will be less likely to interact with patients, unlike your retail colleagues. However, you will work with nurses and doctors who call in a large volume of prescriptions every day. Some hospital pharmacies also have a compounding function, which means that you will mix custom medications for patients who have special needs.
    The average salary for this profession is - $43,700.
  • Pharmacy Technician
    This profession works directly under a licensed pharmacist and is largely responsible for customer service. Pharmacy techs also are responsible for filling prescriptions, consulting on simple medical matters, and working with payment issues related to insurance.
    The average pay for a pharmacy technician is – $35,600.
  • Lab Assistant
    If you have accrued laboratory experience in the course of earning your associate degree, you might pursue work in a research laboratory. Your duties might involve processing specimens. For instance, you could process samples in a centrifuge. You will likely be called upon to maintain inventories of various chemicals, equipment, and catalog samples, too.
    The average pay for this occupation is – $35,400.
  • Registered Nurse
    You might decide to expand on your work in healthcare by returning for a nursing degree. Registered nurses can work in a wide range of specialty areas including psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, and pediatrics, among many others.
    The average salary for licensed registered nurses is – $65,400.
  • Pharmaceutical Sales
    Your academic background in pharmacy may help you land a job in pharmaceutical sales. You will need to have a strong command of medical and scientific terminology to converse with your primary customers, the doctors who order pharmaceuticals.
    This can be a very fun and rewarding position with an average salary of – $84,500.

Options to Advance

Once you have your associate degree in pharmacy or pharmacy tech, you can get to work assisting pharmacists and the customers who come to your counter. In order to advance and ensure long-term success, you will need to pursue a certification from a national association for pharmacy techs. That credential will ensure long-term employment and promotions.

You can also take the credits from your accredited two-year degree program and apply them to a pharmacy baccalaureate degree. Though you might decide to shift gears to some other field, your online associate degree in pharmacy tech will prepare you for more courses in health sciences, while a pre-pharmacy degree preps you to pursue a career as a pharmacist.

The advantage of working with your associate degree for a few years is that you can gain the experience needed to make a sound decision for your future. You'll discover your true strengths and weaknesses, and your interests are sure to broaden and mature as a result.

Best Associate of Science in Pharmacy Programs

  • Mount Wachusett Community College
    Gardner, MA

    MWCC offers students an excellent, low-cost way to get started on a career in pharmacy. Their two-year program focuses on the chemistry and biology courses that will pave the way to the next phase of your career – a baccalaureate degree. As part of the Associate Degree in Pharmacy, you will take care of the core curriculum so that your final undergraduate years can be dedicated to STEM subjects.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate of Science in Pharmacy
    • Associate of Science in Chemistry
    • Associate of Science in Health Information Management

  • Seminole State College of Florida
    Sanford, FL

    Seminole State offers an Associate of Arts in Pharmacy that will put you on track for a career as a Pharmacist. The two-year option is perfect for students who wish to save money on their core curriculum and get a jump-start on pharmacy-related courses. Small class sizes afford you the attention you need and there are options for online learning, as well.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate of Arts in Pharmacy
    • Associate of Arts in Health Sciences
    • Associate of Science in Clinical Pharmacy Technology

  • American National University
    South Bend, IN
    Kentucky Campuses: Danville, Lexington, Louisville, and Pikeville
    Virginia Campuses: Charlottesville, Danville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, and Roanoke Valley
    West Virginia Campuses: Parkersburg and Princeton

    ANU offers a pharmacy technician program that will steep you in the medical terminology, scientific knowledge, and pharmacy procedures that you need to succeed. The degree program also covers chemistry, law, and ethics.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associates Degree – Pharmacy Technician
    • Associates Degree – Medical Assisting
    • Associates Degree – Health Information Management

  • Remington College
    Texas Campuses: Dallas, Fort Worth
    Louisiana Campuses: Lafayette and Shreveport
    Memphis, TN
    Mobile, AL

    Remington offers comprehensive training for budding pharmacy technicians. Your courses will cover topics such as dosage calculation, pharmacy law, therapeutics, medical safety, and principles for career development, among others. Remington has six campuses that offer pharmacy tech training in Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technician
    • Associate Degree in Medical Assisting
    • Associate Degree in Medical Billing and Coding

  • Western Wyoming Community College
    Rock Springs, WY

    WWCC is your ticket to kicking off a stellar career as a pharmacist. Through their program, you can complete the core courses that your baccalaureate program will require, but at a fraction of the cost. On top of that you will be able to establish a post-secondary foundation in biology, chemistry, and human anatomy.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate of Science in Pre-Pharmacy
    • Associate of Science in Computer Science

Find Online Colleges Offering Pharmacy Programs

Traditional Schools Offering an AS

  • Daymar College
    Kentucky, Ohio, and Online

    Daymar College will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to survive and thrive in the ever-growing field of pharmaceuticals. You'll understand dosing, drug interactions, as well as record keeping. Once you graduate, you can seek employment in a local pharmacy, hospital, assisted living facility, or nursing home.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technology
    • Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration

  • Vatterott
    Online – St. Louis, MO

    Vatterott Educational Centers offer a pharmacy technician degree that your future employers will seek. You'll receive in-depth training in medical terminology, pharmacology, law and ethics, as well as instruction on how to succeed as a pharmacy tech.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associates of Occupational Studies – Pharmacy Technician
    • Associates of Occupational Studies – Veterinary Technician

  • Oklahoma City Community College
    Online - Oklahoma City, OK

    If you have your heart set on a career as a pharmacist but also wish to save a bit on quality education, OCCC will prepare you for a baccalaureate program in pharmacy. Their biology, chemistry, and other STEM courses will set the foundation for a successful professional life.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate of Science in Pre-Pharmacy
    • Associate of Science in Chemistry
    • Associate of Science in Allied Health

  • Casper College
    Online and Casper, WY

    Casper College offers a terrific alternative to traditional education. Their online education in pre-pharmacy is exactly the sort of pre-professional foundation you need to get started without breaking your budget. If you are local to Casper, the program is available in traditional classrooms, but you can also take the degree wholly online.

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate of Science in Pre-Pharmacy
    • Associate of Science in Pre-Dentistry
    • Associate of Science in Pre-Physical Therapy

  • Minnesota State Community and Technical College
    Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Wadena, and Online

    Whether you choose the online option, a traditional campus, or a blend, Minnesota State can set the stage for a brilliant career in pharmacy. They offer a route to CSPT certification and they are fully accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

    Degrees Offered:

    • Associate's degree in Pharmacy Technology
    • Associate's degree in Health Science Technology (see their website for a full range of degree options)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a minimum GPA requirement for these programs?

Because of the difficulty of these programs, they often have a minimum GPA requirement for those entering a pharmacy program. This usually means that you must have a GPA of a certain level, often this is a 3.0 GPA requirement. You are also likely to need to have completed certain prerequisite courses such as biology and/or chemistry with passing grades. Some programs even require that you complete the PCAT exam, that is the Pharmacy College Admission Test. These will be programs that are strongly focused on pharmaceutical science, but that also means that they will have high standards in education and provide you with excellent credentials once you leave to start your career.

Do I need to pass an exam to work as a pharmacist?

Yes. You will probably need to pass two exams to work as a pharmacist. These are the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE). However, the MPJE isn’t required everywhere, so you’ll want to check with your state licensing board for all requirements. However, if you are just getting into the field and you wish to work as a pharmacy technician, you will take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam instead. This will prepare you to get your first job in the field.

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