Accredited Online Pharmacy Degrees

An online pharmacy degree can bring excellent careers that offer high salaries. Whether you want to become a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician, these degrees provide the knowledge you need.

To become a pharmacist, you need an advanced education. These studies will culminate in a doctorate of pharmacy, known as a PharmD. The education is shorter than a typical doctorate program. This is because students don’t need a bachelor’s degree. Instead, you can complete an associate in pharmacology and then transition into a doctorate program.

Read on to find out more about all the online options available for degrees in the pharmacy field.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION:

• Online Pharmacy Degree Levels: Diploma | Certificate | Professional Certificate | Associate | Graduate Certificate | Master’s | Post-Graduate Certificate | Doctorate
• Online Pharmacy Degree Accreditation
• Do Online Pharmacy Degrees Meet Requirements for Licensing?
• Licensing and Certifications for Pharmacy Careers
• Career Options with an Online Pharmacy Degree
• Expected Salary with an Online Pharmacy Degree

Diploma

Students who want a shorter path to a pharmacy career can enroll in a pharmacy diploma program. These programs require only a high school diploma for admission. They can be completed 100% online. All the diplomas in our database come from accredited schools. Some also have program accreditation from groups such as the Pharmacy Technician Accrediting Commission (PTAC).

You can complete a diploma in less than a year. The Diploma in Pharmacy Technicians from Northwest Iowa Community College, for example, takes two semesters. Some diplomas cover specialized topics, such as the Diploma in Cannabis Dispensary Administration from Rockford Career College. Most, however, are general pharmacy technician diplomas.

Certificate

Certificates allow students to enter the drug industry in supportive roles at a pharmacy. These jobs may include preparing medication, counting tablets, taking calls, and working with insurance billing. They require a high school diploma for admission. Programs can be completed in less than a year, even while working. The Pharmacy Technician Certificate from Minnesota West Community and Technical College, for example, is 10 credit hours over two semesters.

Students learn the basics of pharmacy work, including terms and practices. This allows students to enter the field or build toward a future career as a pharmacist.

These online pharmacy degrees are available 100% remotely, but some require an internship at an approved pharmacy site. The Certificate in Pharmacy Technician from Barton Community College, for example, requires an internship.

Professional Certificate

A professional certificate can help you launch a career in pharmacy. With these programs, you can go from high school grad to licensed pharmacy tech.

These online pharmacy programs can be completed 100% online. This option allows non-traditional students with busy schedules to complete their education. The Pharmacy Technician Certificate from CareerStep has accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

Associate

If you want to become a pharmacist, you first need an associate degree. A benefit of this field is that you can start a doctorate degree without a bachelor’s or master’s, although some programs do require a bachelor’s.

Requiring two to three years of academic study, these online pharmacy degrees build your knowledge of health science and medications. They are mostly health science degrees with pharmacy technician as the career focus. For instance, the program from South College is an Associate of Science in Health Science (Pre-Pharmacy).

These pharmacy degrees online can qualify graduates for a specific career, such as a pharmacy tech. However, students typically use them as an academic stepping stone to become a pharmacist.

Graduate Certificate

This is one of the largest groups of online pharmacy degree types in our database. Many online options exist for online pharmacy graduate certificate programs. These certificates are for current pharmacy workers and pharmacy students who want to enhance their skills in a specific area. Programs focus on areas such as clinical trials, pharmacy leadership, and regulatory issues.

These online pharmacy degrees, however, require a bachelor’s degree for admission. If you only have an associate degree, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree first.

These programs have been created with the support of some of the most important institutions in healthcare. For example, The George Washington University worked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) to develop its Graduate Certificate in Regulatory Affairs.

Master’s

A master’s degree in pharmacy is often for current professionals in a different industry. For example, the Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Drake University is for psychologists who want to be able to prescribe medications. This online pharmacy degree requires a doctorate for admission. Many other master’s degrees only require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree. This includes online pharmacy degrees from Northeastern University and the University of Colorado at Denver.

A master’s degree in pharmacy can be completed 100% online. Most require at least two years of previous academic studies. They can lead to careers in research, pharmacy leadership, and teaching.

Post-Graduate Certificate

These certificates require a doctorate degree for admission. They are designed to build on your existing knowledge to become an expert in the industry.

The Post-Graduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Industry Affairs from Regis University provides expertise in the pharmacy industry. Coursework focuses on pharmacy affairs and regulations. It requires 12 credit hours in four classes and can be completed 100% online. Regis University holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Classes in this online pharmacy program cover industry communication, study design, and pharmaceutical laws. The program also helps you become certified, providing prep materials for the PTCE exam.

Doctorate

This is the required degree for a pharmacist. These online pharmacy degrees require an associate’s degree for admission, typically not a bachelor’s or master’s. This unique set-up reduces the time of your academic commitment compared to most doctoral programs. Degrees cover a variety of topics related to pharmaceuticals and teach students how to run a pharmacy.

Most of these degrees are online, but some require in-person attendance. The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pathway) from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine requires in-person attendance for one to three weeks at their campus.

Doctorates require four years of class attendance. Combined with an associate’s degree, it will take roughly six to seven years to become a pharmacist.

Accreditation is the act of verifying that schools and programs offer high academic standards. Institutions often receive accreditation from regional bodies such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The main programmatic accrediting body is the ACPE. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes this as the group responsible for accrediting pharmacy programs.

While ACPE is the primary accreditor, other reputable options exist. Accreditation can depend on the online pharmacy degree level. A certificate receives approval from a different body than a doctorate, for example. However, it can also change depending on specialty or overall focus. The Pharmacy Technician program from CareerStep is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The Doctor of Pharmacy from Butler University, a mostly online program, is accredited by ACPE.

Resources:

• ASHP -- Accreditation Programs
• ACPE -- Accreditation

Yes, these degrees can meet the licensing requirements for a pharmacy career. Pharmacists are required to have licensing. The first step is completing a doctorate of pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Many programs in our database hold this approval, so you can complete licensing requirements with these doctorates.

While pharmacists can enhance their credentials with certifications, licensure is mandatory. Most states require licensing for pharmacy technicians as well.

The process for becoming licensed will depend on your state. Here is the process for licensing in Washington, for example:

1. Complete a doctorate of pharmacy (PharmD) program accredited by ACPE.
2. Take and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX).
3. Take and pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), which covers the laws in a specific state. (In this case, Washington.)
4. Your exam results will be reported as either “pass” or “fail.” You will not receive a scaled score informing you of your performance.
5. Pay a fee of $400 for a pharmacist’s original license. License renewal costs $530.

Resource:

• Washington State Department of Health

While pharmacist and pharmacy technician jobs won’t see massive growth, there will be a steady increase. Pharmacy technicians, which in 2021 had an estimated 447,300 jobs, are expected to grow by 7% between 2021 and 2031. This is slightly faster than the expected growth for all jobs, which sits at 5%.

Pharmacist positions, on the other hand, may increase by only 2%. This lack of growth will largely be driven by industry mergers and the closure of independent and chain drug stores. However, by 2031 there will still be an estimated 331,000 pharmacists.

The highest focus of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians is in Kentucky, West Virginia, and the American Southeast. The highest concentration of pharmacy technicians is in Kentucky, with 1.64 per 1,000 jobs. After this state is West Virginia (1.54), Alabama (1.35), Maine (1.31), and Tennessee (1.30).

For pharmacists, the highest concentration is in West Virginia (1.46). This is followed by South Dakota (1.25), North Dakota (1.25), Alabama (1.25), and Kentucky (1.24).

Resources: 

• Pharmacy Technicians (BLS)
• Pharmacists (BLS)

Pharmacists across the country enjoy a strong income. The median salary for this career is $128,570, while the top 10% earn over $164,000. Education requirements are vigorous, but a PharmD qualifies you for top salaries in the job market.

Pharmacy technicians don’t have such a high salary, but the income is decent. The median salary for this profession is $36,740, which is lower than the median for all jobs of $45,760.

Pharmacists and pharmacist technicians in California have the highest salaries. Keep the cost of living in mind, though. The median salary for a California pharmacist is $146,140, and the average pharmacy tech earns $49,990.

Whether you want a quick diploma or certificate or are pursuing a doctorate, online degrees can open the doors to a wonderful career. Check out the options on GetEducated.com and submit your information to find the right pharmacy programs online for you and your career goals.