Pharmacy Technician (B300)

Applied Technology Diploma

Mission Statement

Creating competent, ethical, confident entry-level health care practitioners committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.

The Career

Pharmacy Technicians work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists to perform technical and clerical duties in the systematic operation of the pharmacy. They are prepared to work in retail and community pharmacies, hospital and health care affiliated pharmacies, or mail-order pharmacies. Pharmacy technicians practice under the legal umbrella of the pharmacist license; therefore, all technician activities are the responsibility of the pharmacist.

The Program

This program provides students with the theoretical, practical and clinical skills needed to work as a pharmacy technician in a retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, health care facility, nursing home or mail-order pharmacy. Program completers will be eligible to take the national pharmacy technician certification exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. This program is part of the Pharmacy Management A.S. degree and guarantees transfer of credit of 40 hours toward the A.S. degree.

Internships

Hands-on experience is included in your program through internships with our medical partners: Baptist, Brooks Rehabilitation, Flagler, Memorial, St. Luke’s, St. Vincent’s, and the Naval Hospital, as well as Mayo Clinic and Orange Park Medical Center.

Career Opportunities, Rapid Placement

Full- and part-time opportunities are expected to increase dramatically. A growing and aging population will drive the need for pharmaceuticals and the expansion of retail pharmacies and the role of pharmacy technicians.

Annual Salaries

Average earnings for pharmacy technicians range from $10 to $14 per hour, to more than $17 per hour. Shifts and weekends rates are higher and certification also increases your income.

Certification and Articulation

Your diploma makes you eligible to take the national pharmacy technician certification exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

Cost

Estimated cost of tuition is $2,656 (tuition rated for Florida residents, as of 7/07). Contact program manager for additional costs (textbooks, materials, fees).

Application Procedure

To meet the minimum requirements for consideration for acceptance to the Pharmacy Technician program, students must:

1. Complete a pharmacy technician application.
2. Submit high school completion transcript or copy of GED® test scores.

Curriculum

Course Number and Title		Credits
Supporting Courses
*CGS 1060	Introduction to Information Technology	3
or CGS 1100 Microcomputer Applications for Business and Economics
*BSC 2020C	Human Biology	4
ENC 1101	English Composition I	3
HSC 1531	Medical Terminology (for Health Professions)	3
	Credit Hours	13

Required Professional Courses
PTN 1001	Introduction to Pharmacy	3
PTN 1131	Applied Pharmacy Practice	3
PTN 1131L	Applied Pharmacy Practice Laboratory	3
PTN 1017	Pharmacy Technician Math	3
PTN 1121	Therapeutic Agents I	3
PTN 1122	Therapeutic Agents II	3
PTN 1930	Community Pharmacy Seminar	1
PTN 1940	Pharmacy Technician Practicum I	2
PTN 1941	Pharmacy Technician Practicum II	3
PTN 1942	Pharmacy Technician Practicum III	3
	Credit Hours	27
	Total Credit Hours	40

*The BSC 2010C prerequisite has been waived for students enrolled in the Funeral Services, Emergency Medical Services and Pharmacy Technician programs.
**CGS 1570 may be substituted for CGS 1060 or CGS 1100.

Record of Conviction of a Crime

Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screening and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

The cost of the background check and drug screen is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline.

Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into selective access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition.

A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program.

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