Penn Foster partners with Walgreens on pharmacy technician externship program

SCRANTON, Pa. — Penn Foster on Tuesday announced a new partnership with Walgreens to improve its U.S. Pharmacy Technician Program. Graduates of the U.S. Penn Foster Pharmacy Technician Program will now be required to complete an externship through partners, including Walgreens, to be better prepared for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and employment in the field. 

 

Through this new requirement, Penn Foster students receive in-person instruction in pharmacy technician training at their pharmacy placement.

 

This announcement is in line with National Pharmacy Technician Day, a day dedicated to celebrating pharmacy technician professionals in this fast-growing, in-demand field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the pharmacy technician field is expected to grow 32% faster than average from 2012 to 2022, and offers many different job opportunities and work schedules that fit various lifestyles. It is ranked 36th on the U.S. News and World Report's list of Best Healthcare Jobs and 83rd on U.S. News and World Report's list of 100 Best Jobs.

 

"We are proud to partner with Walgreens and other national retail pharmacy brands in our mission to align education and hands-on training with the needs of employers," stated Frank Britt, CEO of Penn Foster. "The improvements to our Pharmacy Technician Program are the latest in a series of changes Penn Foster has made to help our students become more competitive and successful in their chosen career fields."

 

In addition to a mandatory externship with its partners, Penn Foster has revised its U.S. Pharmacy Technician program to better prepare graduates for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and will now cover the cost of the exam for its graduates.