Every meaningful career starts with a single step. For some, it’s a lifelong dream to work in health care. For others, it’s a newfound passion, and a desire to make a difference. No matter where that journey begins, UPMC’s Pharmacy Technician Training Program is designed to help turn that first step into a rewarding career.
Trainees make a meaningful impact from day one.
Participants are hired as employees, earning a salary and receiving benefits while gaining the education, mentorship, and hands-on training needed to grow in the pharmacy field. No prior pharmacy experience is required – only curiosity, dedication, and a commitment to helping others.
With continuous enrollment across pharmacy sites throughout the UPMC system, trainees begin building real-world skills right away: learning alongside experienced professionals, gaining confidence in active care environments, and preparing for a career that supports patients, teams, and communities.
A Hands-On Approach to Learning
The 12-month program gives trainees the support, structure, and practical experience needed to build confidence in a pharmacy career. Through a mix of classroom learning, simulation, on-site rotations, and on-the-job training, participants grown and learn by doing alongside experienced UPMC pharmacy professionals.
Over the course of a year, participants gain experience through:
- Online coursework that helps build the foundational knowledge needed to understand pharmacy practice.
- Simulated training experiences where trainees can practice new skills in a supportive learning environment.
- Experiential rotations that introduce learners to different pharmacy settings, responsibilities, and career possibilities.
- Hands-on training under the guidance of licensed pharmacists who help trainees apply what they learn in real care settings.
This approach helps trainees turn learning into action, developing technical skills, critical thinking, and confidence to support patients and care teams with purpose.
Celebrating the Program’s First Graduate
For Jayson, the trainee program’s first graduate, the path to pharmacy began with a long-standing passion for the field. He was slated to attend pharmacy school after graduating from high school, but had to step away due to financial reasons. While working as a patient transporter at UPMC, Jayson learned of the Pharmacy Technician Training Program and took the first step in pursuing the career path he always hoped to follow.
“The program gave me confidence that I could keep growing in pharmacy and maybe one day go back to school to become a pharmacist. It was a lot to learn at first, but it was all worth it. Whether you want to work in retail or hospital pharmacy, both experiences are important to understanding the full scope of what pharmacy technicians do.”
Today, Jayson’s role continues to reflect the versatility and impact of pharmacy technicians at UPMC. From sterile and non-sterile compounding to narcotics delivery and first-dose preparation, he supports safe, accurate, and efficient medication services that help patients heal. His story shows how the program can turn passion into hands-on experience, career confidence, and a meaningful behind-the-scenes role in patient care.
"It was a lot to learn at first, but it was all worth it. Whether you want to work in retail or hospital pharmacy, both experiences are important to understanding the full scope of what pharmacy technicians do."
A Career Pathway with Opportunity
After successfully completing the program, graduates receive a diploma and certificate of completion and are prepared to pursue national pharmacy technician certification — an important step toward building long-term confidence and credibility in the field.
And from there, the opportunity to keep growing continues.
UPMC is committed to helping pharmacy technicians build careers with momentum. Through structured development pathways and a pharmacy technician career ladder, team members can continue gaining experience, advancing their skills, and moving into more specialized or leadership-focused roles over time.
At its heart, the UPMC Pharmacy Technician Training Program is about education, empowerment, and possibility, helping trainees become highly qualified pharmacy technicians while opening the door to a meaningful health care career.
Whether you’re a recent high school graduate, exploring a career change, or looking for a new way to make an impact, this program offers a direct path into work that supports patients, care teams, and communities every day.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
A rewarding health care career may be closer than you think. Through UPMC’s Pharmacy Technician Training Program, you can learn while you earn, develop in-demand skills, and build a future dedicated to improving patient care.
Explore current opportunities and take the first step toward your pharmacy career with UPMC today.
