Pharmacy Technician Trainee Program

Primary Location

Burnet Campus

Department

Pharmacy

Shift

Rotating (United States of America)

Schedule

Full time

Weekly Hours

40

FTE

1

Employee Status

Regular

 

*Expected Starting Pay Range

$16.50 - $19.80

*Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on‑call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply. Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

 

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN TRAINEE PROGRAM: Earn Your Way to a Career as a Pharmacy Technician

We are recruiting 8 Pharmacy Technician Trainees to begin the program on November 9, 2026!

Location: Burnet Campus, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati OH 45229

Status: Full-time, 40 hours/week

Pay: $17.50 per hour + $1.50/hour shift differential + $1.00/hour weekend differential + benefits and paid time off

Cincinnati Children's offers an entry-level American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ASHP/ACPE) accredited technician training program. The education and training is designed to provide individuals with little-to-no pharmacy experience with the knowledge and skills to be a successful pharmacy technician. The training program takes about three to four months to complete and begins with online coursework that progresses to simulated activities, followed by hands-on experiential training in one of our pharmacies.

Why Choose a Career as a Pharmacy Technician?

• Pharmacy technicians are in high demand throughout the country: They are the backbone of the pharmacy and serve vital roles in providing meaningful and safe care for our patients. Here at Cincinnati Children's, you have the opportunity to work alongside a variety of healthcare professionals to ensure our pediatric patients' medications are prepared accurately and delivered in a timely manner.

• Continuous career progression: Pharmacy services continue to evolve, leading to role expansion in both technical and clinical aspects for pharmacy technicians. There are multiple career paths available for pharmacy technicians, including retail, hospital, nursing homes, home infusion pharmacies, specialty pharmacies, automation, compounding pharmacies, manufacturing, and more.

• Daily variety: Pharmacy technicians complete a wide array of tasks making each day new and exciting.

• Lifelong skills: Pharmacy technicians learn useful skills that extend beyond the realm of pharmacy and set you up for success in other aspects of your life.

Minimum Qualifications to Apply for the Pharmacy Technician Trainee Program

• 18 years of age

• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent

• Full-time commitment of rotating shifts for approximately 1.5 years (40 hours per week)

When does a New Training Program Start? November 9, 2026.

Interested candidates must submit their application by EOB Monday, September, 7, 2026. The program takes about three to four months (six months max) to complete.

What happens after I apply?

• Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

• Human Resources completes an initial review of each candidate to confirm eligibility.

• Eligible candidates then receive a link to complete a video screening, recording your answers to a few questions. Failure to complete in a timely manner will result in removal from consideration.

• A selection committee will then review and select candidates for onsite interviews.

• Human Resources will work with those candidates to schedule an onsite interview.

• During the interview, candidates are required to complete a math assessment which covers fractions and decimals, unit conversions, ratios, proportions, and percentages.

• Candidates must also select references – candidates will not be considered for the program until all references have been submitted.

Training Program Outline and Scheduling Requirements

• Weeks 1-8 = Didactic Coursework and Simulations

  • Monday – Friday 7:30 am - 4 pm

• Weeks 9-12 = Experiential Training in Pharmacy

  • Shift times vary between days and evenings

• One year full-time work commitment following completion of the program

  • Shifts vary between days and evenings, every other weekend, rotating holidays, and on-call coverage

• Range of shift times that are required by all participants

  • 6 am - 2:30 pm

  • 7 am - 3:30 pm

  • 7:30 am - 4 pm

  • 8 am - 4:30 pm

  • 9 am - 5:30 pm

  • 10:30 am - 7 pm

  • 11 am - 7:30 pm

  • 1 pm - 9:30 pm

  • 2 pm - 10:30 pm

Additional Expectations (for those accepted into the program)

• Successful Completion of a Pre-Employment Screen

  • BCI and FBI Background Checks

  • Drug Screen

  • Vaccination Requirements - At a minimum, Cincinnati Children's requires MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Pertussis, Influenza, and COVID vaccinations. Also strongly recommended are tetanus, polio, and hepatitis A vaccinations

• Register with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy prior to starting the program

  • Requires proof of high school diploma or equivalent

  • BCI and FBI background checks

  • Government issued photo ID

  • $40 Registration Fee

• Physical Capacity

  • Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds

  • Ability to stand for long periods of time

  • Ability to complete 5,000 - 15,000 steps (2 - 8 miles) in a single shift

How Much Does the Program Cost?

The program cost ($1200) is covered by Cincinnati Children's, provided a work commitment of one year is agreed upon by the applicant. The work commitment is full-time and begins after the successful completion of the training program. An open position must be available, as well as offered to the student. Obtaining certification via the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is also required to work as a technician at Cincinnati Children’s following the training program. The exam via PTCB costs $130 and one attempt is included in the cost of the program. Subsequent attempts are the responsibility of the technician.

Students are required to enroll as a "Trainee" with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy prior to starting the program and must pay a $40 application fee. In order to apply, students will need their high school diploma or equivalent as well as FBI and BCI background checks, which can be completed at Cincinnati Children's.

What to Expect as a Pharmacy Technician?

After successful completion of the training program the trainee is eligible for an open Pharmacy Technician I position at Cincinnati Children's. If a position is available and offered, the trainee would be promoted to a Technician I and required to fulfill a one year, fulltime work commitment which consists of days and evenings, every other weekend, rotating holidays, and on-call coverage. This promotion includes a raise and continued employment is contingent upon obtaining certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

As the backbone of our high-functioning pharmacy, our technicians are crucial to our operations and perform a wide range of tasks which include sterile compounding, non-sterile compounding, dosage preparation and repackaging, inventory management, hazardous medication handling, maintenance of pharmacy automation systems, and much more.

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s. 

 Cincinnati Children's is: 

• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10  best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years 

• Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding 

• Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers  (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025) 

• One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune 

• Consistently certified as great place to work 

• A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability 

• Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 

 We Embrace Innovation—Together.  We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us. 

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability