Historical Development of the Pharmacy Technician Program

Professional Training Centers began offering the Pharmacy Technician Program as a certificate program, providing a short curriculum predominantly to foreign medical professionals.

Scope of Practice for Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technicians are supervised by licensed pharmacists. Technicians enter prescription orders, assist the pharmacist with filling and labeling prescriptions in accordance with local, state and federal regulations, maintain patient records and insurance information, prepare and maintain the pharmacy inventory, work in compounding medications and use automated dispensing technology. Most Pharmacy Technicians work in community pharmacies, hospitals, home health care, mail services facilities, wholesale industries, government organizations, or educational/training programs.

Descriptions of Working Environment

To provide our students with the finest educational experience in the discipline of Pharmacy Technician by delivering appropriate instruction to generate the development of competency-based skills that will ensure appropriate proficiency in the chosen field.

Program Mission Statement

The Pharmacy Technician program is committed to prepare individuals as professional members of a health care team, promoting intellectual and personal development by providing classroom lectures and direct practical experience in the laboratory. We assist our graduates in obtaining gainful employment as an entry-level Pharmacy Technician.

Program Objectives

The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as Pharmacy Technician, or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in this occupational area.

Program Goals

1. Graduates will acquire the knowledge for preparing and dispensing medications in accordance with standard procedures and state and federal regulations under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
2. Have the ability to transcribe and process physician orders.
3. Have the ability to prepare intravenous admixtures, including chemotherapy medications.
4. Acquire the understanding of maintaining patient profiles and medication records electronically.
5. Acquire the understanding of preparing bulk formulation and compounding.
6. Graduates will be able to maintain pharmacy inventories.
7. Acquire the skills for communicating effectively with patients and members of health care team.

General Information

The curriculum is standardized in compliance with accreditation agencies to provide the competency based, outcome oriented, didactic, laboratory and clinical experience. Students are scheduled to attend 20 hours per week, 5 days a week, and are scheduled to alternate between didactic and laboratory sessions. Upon commencement of the program the student will be provided a syllabus that contains the course specific objectives.

The Pharmacy laboratory incorporates the latest teaching aids, audiovisual equipment, and demo Pharmacy software that allows our students to obtain practical experience for the community/ institutional component of the program.

Upon completion of the program, students will earn a Diploma in Pharmacy Technology.