Pharmacy technician training programs result in a certificate, diploma, or an associate degree depending on the program.
Here’s what you need to know about each one:
Certificate Program
Students generally finish a certificate program in less than a year. Courses are likely to include:
Drug Classification – A study of pharmaceutical drugs and their abbreviations, dosages, side effects, classifications, and administration routes.
Introduction to Pharmacy Practice – This basic course covers the fundamentals of pharmacy practice and instructors will discuss pharmacy terminology and abbreviations as well as laws and ethics.
Pharmacy Practice I – This course centers on the fundamentals of pharmacy practice in different practice settings in regards to accurate and safe preparation and distribution of sterile and non-sterile topical and parenteral medications.
Medication Calculations – During Medication Calculations, students learn calculations, conversions, and measurements for medications, and it includes the metric system, solving algebraic equations and systems, and children’s dosages.
Diploma Program
These programs take around a year to complete, and offered courses may include:
Healthcare/Human Relations – This course introduces students to a host of healthcare issues and human relations. Topics include accountability, communication, patient rights, cultural bias, and effective interpersonal skills.
Pharmacy Law and Ethics – Designed to cover professional ethics and the philosophy requirements along with administration and enforcement of local, state, and federal laws that relate to professional pharmacy practices.
Basic Anatomy – This course puts an emphasis on the basic structure and function of the human body.
Pharmacy Principles and Practices – Students learn hospital and retail dispensing techniques, basic customer service, and the use of computers in a pharmacy.
Communication in the Workplace – During this course, students learn the elements of oral and written communication that is necessary in today’s workplace.
Associate Degree Program
These take two years to complete, and classes may include:
Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals – This course provides a basic overview of the pharmacy technology field. Topics include basic laws of chemistry, safety, and orientation to the pharmacy field.
Principles of Sterile Medication Preparation – Students learn the necessary skills needed to maintain an aseptic environment, prepare medication, and process glassware.
Pharmaceutical Calculations – This course allows students to develop the knowledge and skills needed for pharmaceutical calculations. Topics include medication dispensing calculations and pharmacy mathematical procedures.
Principles of Dispensing Medication – Students are introduced to the principles of medication classification. Topics include controlled substances, specific drugs, and drug interactions.
Quantitative Skills and Reasoning – Emphasizes statistics, algebra, and mathematics of finance. Topics include probability and statistics, geometry, and mathematics of voting and districting.
Introduction to Healthcare – This course introduces a variety of fundamental principle issues and practices that are common in the healthcare profession.
Internship
Almost all pharmacy technician students are required to spend a certain number of hours (varies by program) working in a pharmacy. This gives them practical experience and allows them to put their new-found skills to the test.
Certification
All programs should prepare students for the certification exams administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians. Not all states require pharmacy technicians to earn certification, but it’s best to obtain the credential because those who earn it almost always have better job prospects and a higher salary.
Job Outlook and Salary
Is becoming a pharmacy technician worth it? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics it is. The Bureau projects the job growth of pharmacy technicians will be twenty percent until 2022, which will create thousands of new positions. In 2013, the median annual salary was $29,650.
Before selecting a program, confirm it has been accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. If you have any questions regarding the various training programs located throughout the country, please contact us.
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