Program Overview
Total Clock Hours
240 hours
Program Length
10 weeks
Graduation Requirements
Complete all courses with a minimum score of 70% on all course work
Award
Certificate of Completion
Program Description
The Pharmacy Technician program is designed to help students acquire the practical knowledge and the specialized skill needed to fill the role and perform all tasks required of a Pharmacy Technician in the state of California, under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist. This course covers all topics required by Title 16 California Code of Regulation section 1793.6(c) and more, which makes our graduates eligible to obtain their license from the California State Board of Pharmacy. Graduates of this course will be equipped with the knowledge needed to obtain their certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or National Healthcare Association Pharmacy Technician Certification Program, which can increase their employability and competitiveness in the job market.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, the graduate will be able to:
- • Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology to understand drug classifications, dosage forms, and routes of administration.
- • Perform accurate pharmacy calculations using standard formulas, abbreviations, and medical terminology.
- • Demonstrate understanding of federal and state laws, regulatory agencies, and legal standards affecting pharmacy practice.
- • Manage inventory, storage, and ordering procedures in compliance with drug formularies and supply chain practices.
- • Apply quality assurance and medication safety principles to prevent and report medication errors.
- • Communicate effectively with patients, maintain confidentiality, and support patient counseling and education.
- • Assist with patient care services including immunizations, medication therapy management, and point-of-care testing.
- • Process prescriptions and medication orders using pharmacy information systems and computerized documentation.
- • Prepare nonsterile and sterile compounded medications following USP standards and infection control procedures.
- • Assist with pharmacy billing and reimbursement procedures, including third-party claims and coding systems.
Program Mission
The mission of this program is to provide high quality pharmacy technician training that prepares the student for the ever changing healthcare environment. The goal of this program is to prepare the student to become a California Licensed Pharmacy Technician.
Outline of Subject Matter
| Topic | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Classifications and Formulations | Anatomy, physiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and routes of drug administration. | 25 |
| Pharmacy Calculations, Abbreviations, and Terminology | Calculations using ratio and proportion, units of measurement, abbreviations, and medical terminology. | 25 |
| Pharmacy Law and Regulations | FDA, CMS, DEA, USP regulations, drug approval process, controlled substances, and HIPAA. | 25 |
| Inventory Control, Drug Formularies, Storage, and Shortages | Inventory management, pharmaceutical supply chain, formularies, and medication storage. | 25 |
| Pharmacy Quality Assurance and Medication Safety | Quality control, quality assurance, medication safety, and error reporting. | 25 |
| Interacting with Patients | Communication skills, patient counseling, education, and confidentiality. | 25 |
| Patient Care Services and the Pharmacy Technician | Medication therapy management, immunizations, point-of-care testing, and chronic disease management. | 25 |
| Processing Prescriptions and Medication Orders/Pharmacy Information and Computer Systems | Prescription processing, pharmacy information systems, and computerized dispensing. | 25 |
| Nonsterile and Sterile Compounding | USP standards, compounding equipment, sterile products, and infection control. | 25 |
| Pharmacy Billing and Reimbursement | Payment methods, third-party payers, claims submission, and billing codes. | 15 |
Launch Your Pharmacy Technician Career Today
Prepare for California pharmacy technician licensure and optional national certification with our comprehensive training program.