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What does a pharmacy technician do?

Pharmacy technicians have many tasks. Some include: collecting information needed to fill a prescription from customers or health professionals, packaging and labeling prescriptions for customers, and organize inventory and alert pharmacists to any shortages of medications or supplies, just to name a few.

Where do pharmacy technician work?

Pharmacy technicians often work in retail stores, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.

Why is certification important to becoming a pharmacy technician?

Becoming certified shows your that you have obtain the proper training and skillset needed to be a pharmacy technician.

What is the job outlook for a pharmacy technician?

According to the , the job outlook for a  pharmacy technician is expected to grow by 6% (faster than average) between 2022 and 2032, with 459,600 job opening annually.

This pharmacy technician course can be completed in one year or less. You will learn key topics, including  federal and state laws that govern pharmacies, as well as the ethics of pharmacy practice. Upon successful course completion, you will become eligible for a 100+ hour externship at a leading national pharmacy chain.

Module 1. Orientation to Pharmacy

• History
• Foundations and Roles
• Reference Materials
• Terminology Words and Abbreviations
• Terminology – Body Systems
• Community Pharmacy
• Hospital Pharmacy
• Advanced Pharmacy Environments

Module 2. Pharmacy Law and Ethics

• Introduction to Law
• Liability
• Ethics
• Federal Regulations
• Controlled Substances
• HIPAA
• Safety Laws
• State Laws
• State Boards of Pharmacy

Module 3. Pharmaceutical Calculations

• Number Systems
• Math Skills Review
• Dosage Calculations
• Percentage of Error
• Business Math
• Dilutions and Concentrations
• Oral Medications and Reconstitutions
• Parenteral Doses
• Intravenous Flow Rates
• Pediatric Doses

Module 4. Pharmacology I: Basics and Specific Populations

• Legislation and Regulation
• Sources and Forms
• Biopharmaceutics
• Pregnancy and Lactation
• Pediatric Patients
• Geriatric Patients
• Misused/Abused Drugs

Module 5. Pharmacology II: Body Systems – Neurological

• Antidepressants/Antipsychotics
• Antianxiety/Hypnotics
• Autonomic Nervous System
• Parkinson's/Alzheimer's
• Seizures
• Anesthetics

Module 6. Pharmacology III: Body Systems – Muscles, Heart, Lungs

• Musculoskeletal
• Cardiovascular
• Hypertensives/Cholesterol
• Diuretics
• Anticoagulants
• Respiratory/Allergies
• Gastrointestinal

Module 7. Pharmacology IV: Multi-body Systems

• Hormones – Endocrine
• Hormones – Reproductive
• Vitamins, Minerals, and Nutritionals
• Antineoplastic
• Analgesics
• Anti-Infective/Antibacterial
• Antivirals/Antifungals

Module 8. Communication Skills and Billing         

• Computers
• Communications
• Financial Management
• Insurance
• Billing and Collections
• Inventory Control

Module 9. Lab Practice I

• Retail

Module 10. Lab Practice II

• Hospital

We have worked with our partners at on a nationwide agreement with several pharmacies that will give our Pharmacy Technician course students an important leg up in the job market. These pharmacies will offer their renowned externship programs to you, provided you meet basic qualifications.Externs will get hands-on experience that includes assisting pharmacists with prescriptions, answering patient questions about medications, and a bevy of administrative duties.In order to qualify for an externship, you'll have to pass a drug screening test, obtain professional liability insurance, complete a background check and employment verification, meet current immunization standards, conform with and complete any state mandates such as registration, fingerprinting, licensing etc. Additional forms may be necessary for externships with certain pharmacies. It may take up to 12 weeks to find an available opening.

*Disclaimer: An externship with these pharmacies is not guaranteed. All students must apply to the program and complete the prerequisite criteria before being accepted. Positions in the externship program are contingent on availability at each pharmacy location. Students may also set up their own externship at any other retail or hospital facility. The externship is an additional 100 hours.To participate in the CVS or Walgreens externships, students must not have a criminal record. Background checks will be conducted prior to the student's admittance into the externship program.

PLEASE NOTE: Walgreens is not currently able to place externship students in Arizona and Florida because they're piloting a POWER project in those states. An alternate externship may be available in these states.

To sit for the NHA ExCPT® (CPhT) pharmacy technician certification exam you must meet these requirements:

• Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency; or are scheduled to earn a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency in the next 60 days
  AND
  Completed a pharmacy technician training or education program within the last 5 years

OR

• Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency
  AND
  Have 1 year of work experience with at least 1,200 hours of supervised pharmacy-related work within the last 3 years

To participate in the competency activities and receive feedback from your instructor, you will need to have access to a video camera (on the phone or other device of familiarity) and be able to upload the video as an .mp4 file to the assignment pages for review. These activities are required in order to pass the course successfully.

 

This course will fully prepare you for the  offered by the National Healthcareer Association.

Susan King, Ph.D., is a registered nurse with a background in leadership, critical care, and emergency nursing. She currently serves in the role of faculty and simulation coordinator for the Towson University Department of Nursing. She earned a B.S. in nursing from Bowie State University. She also obtained a M.S. in nursing, an MBA in healthcare administration, and a PhD in 2017. King is certified through the National League of Nursing as a Certified Nurse Educator, as well as a Certified Clinical Nurse Educator demonstrating standards of excellence in knowledge of nursing education through the National League of Nursing. King earned certification from the society for simulation in healthcare as a certified simulation healthcare educator in 2023. Dr. King’s lifelong passion of nutrition and fitness is supported by a certification as a personal trainer, group fitness professional, and nutrition counselor in sports nutrition and nutrition for weight management. She is certified in Barre Connect by the National Exercise Trainers Association. She has earned a certification in an aquatic fitness from Aquatic Alliance International and group spin certification from Kaiser Cycling Association. She enjoys the outdoors and time with her family.