Download Pharmacy Technician - SDSU - SDSU | College of Extended Studies

Pharmacy Technician
Training and Test Prep Certificate Program
Program Information and
Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
Introduction and Overview of the Profession ........................................................................... 2
What Pharmacy Technicians Do ................................................................................................ 2
Employment Prospects in the Field........................................................................................... 2
Program Overview ..................................................................................................................... 2
Course Content .......................................................................................................................... 2
Key Areas Covered in This Course ............................................................................................. 3
Detailed Topics Covered in This Course .................................................................................... 3
Prerequisites.............................................................................................................................. 3
Tuition and Fees ........................................................................................................................ 3
Registration ............................................................................................................................... 4
Schedule .................................................................................................................................... 4
Current Offerings ....................................................................................................................... 4
Location ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Course Completion .................................................................................................................... 5
Required Scores ......................................................................................................................... 5
Documentation of Course Completion ..................................................................................... 5
Letter of Completion ................................................................................................................. 5
Certificate of Completion .......................................................................................................... 5
Certification ............................................................................................................................... 5
Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................................................................... 6
Additional Information .............................................................................................................. 8
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Introduction and Overview of the Profession
What Pharmacy Technicians Do
Pharmacy Technicians work in pharmacies under the direction of a pharmacist. Their main
responsibility is filling prescriptions according to doctors' orders. Pharmacy Technicians
prepare medications for dispensing to patients. This generally includes retrieving drugs in
the correct dosage form and strength, measuring the appropriate amount of drug, and
producing a prescription label. Pharmacy Technicians work with drugs to be administered
orally, topically, for the eye, nose, etc. Depending upon the practice setting, a Pharmacy
Technician is also involved in the admixture of drugs for intravenous use.
Employment Prospects in the Field
Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022,
faster than the average for all occupations. Several factors will lead to increased demand for
prescription medications. Pharmacy technicians may be needed to take on a greater role in
pharmacy operations because pharmacists are increasingly performing more patient care
activities such as giving flu shots. Technicians will need to perform tasks such as collecting
patient information, preparing more types of medications, and verifying the work of other
technicians, tasks formerly done by pharmacists.
Program Overview
The Pharmacy Technician Program at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies
Course Content
This comprehensive program will prepare students to work as a pharmacy technician in a
retail pharmacy or other pharmacy setting. Course content includes pharmacy medical
terminology, the history of pharmacy, pharmacy practice in multiple environments,
pharmacy calculations and measurements, reading and interpreting prescriptions, defining
drugs by generic and brand names, dispensing prescriptions, and inventory control. The
program includes 59.5 hours of classroom lecture including hands-on labs and an optional
80 hours of clinical externship opportunity at a pharmacy for students who qualify. Course
material assists in preparation for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCE
exam.
NEW! This course was recently extended by seven hours. The last two class sessions focus
solely on reviewing the PTCE study guide and practice exam.
After obtaining the suggested practical work experience, students who complete the course
will be prepared to sit for professional certification exams (see Certification section).
SDSU is approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
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Key Areas Covered in This Course
• Checking inventories and ordering supplies
• Receiving and checking in supplies
• Assisting customers
• Keeping pharmacy work areas clean
• Completing insurance forms
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCE test prep
Detailed Topics Covered in This Course
• Role of the pharmacy technician and the “Evolution of Pharmacy”
• History/discussion of various practice settings and the technician certification process
• Recruiting by pharmacy specialty
• Review of hospital pharmacy setting, retail practice, regulatory agencies involved with a
pharmacy practice, long-term care practice setting, mail-order pharmacy, home-care
pharmacy practice
• Pharmacy measures, Roman numerals, abbreviations
• Review of generic drugs, basic biopharmaceuticals, dosage forms, patient profiles
• Prescription label requirements, order transcription, ordering and inventory control, drug
pricing, third-party reimbursement
• Formularies, unit dose systems, emergency and crash carts, house supplies, automatic stop
orders, calculating number of doses required
• All major classes of drugs including top brand names and generic drugs
• Aseptic technique, handling of sterile products including antineoplastic agent considerations
• Basics of IV solutions, calculating 24-hour supply of IV solutions, percentages and
electrolytes preparations
• The metric system; children’s doses and allegation method, math review
• Apothecaries and avoirdupois systems of measurement
• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), demonstration of TPN admixture, hands-on practice of IV
admixture and parenteral medication preparation
Prerequisites
Students enrolling in the course should have:
• A high school diploma or GED
• The ability to read, write, and comprehend English
• Basic arithmetic skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
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Tuition and Fees
The total program fee is $1,599 and includes textbooks and parking. This amount must be paid in
full at the time of registration. Payment plans are not available. Note: All course offerings and prices
are subject to change. Financial Aid Options are listed on our website.
Students who qualify and choose to complete the optional externship will be required to
submit the following requirements at their own cost:
1. Immunization record including MMR, TDAP, Varicella, Hep B
(Any gaps in the record must be addressed.)
2. Tuberculosis (PPD) test results dated within last 12 months
3. Negative 9-panel drug screen results
4. Live Scan background check
Please note that this is a noncredit professional development certificate that does not offer
transferrable units to a degree program such a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree.
Registration
Detailed registration information is available on our website. If possible, please register at
least two weeks in advance to prevent class cancellations. No application is necessary to
register for this course.
Schedule
The Pharmacy Technician Professional Certificate program is offered is offered in spring,
summer, and fall.
Current Offerings
The Summer 2017 schedule is:
Dates: June 5 – Aug. 7, 2017
Days/Times: Mon. & Wed., 6-9:30 pm
No Class: Monday, July 3rd and Wednesday, July 5th
Location
Courses are held at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies in the Gateway Center or Extended
Studies Center Buildings located at 5250 Campanile Drive. You will receive the exact building
and room number for your class prior to the course start date via email. Classroom location
information is also posted daily on the electronic display boards located throughout the
Gateway and Extended Studies Buildings.
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Course Completion
Required Scores
To pass the course and be eligible to receive the Certificate of Completion, students must
earn a final score of 70% or higher.
Points
100-90%
89-80%
79-70 %
69-60 %
Below 59%
Incomplete*
Score
Excellent
Above Average
Average
Marginal
Unsatisfactory
Did not complete
*An Incomplete score must be approved by the instructor and CES. Student must have
completed at least 60% of the class coursework.
Documentation of Course Completion
Letter of Completion
At the completion of the course, students may download a Letter of Completion using the CES
Gateway Login portal. It will include the course title, start/completion dates, course cost, and final
score. Students may provide a copy of this letter to their HR departments for tuition
reimbursement. For organizations that require a grade or its equivalent to reimburse employees
based on performance, the grading rubric above reflects a score that is equivalent to the traditional
grading systems using letter grades A-F.
Certificate of Completion
At the completion of the course, students must submit a Certificate Application to receive a
Certificate of Completion. This certificate includes the student’s name, the program title, and the
date the course was completed. This certificate may be copied to include with a résumé when
applying for jobs. Use this link to request your Certificate.
Certification
After obtaining the suggested practical work experience, students who complete this course may
choose to sit for the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) exam offered through the Pharmacy
Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Fees for the certification exam are not included in the
program tuition. SDSU CES does not proctor or administer the certification exam for this course.
Visit PTCB’s website for detailed exam and membership information and requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is SDSU accredited?
Yes. SDSU is accredited through Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Where can I find information to assist in my career planning?
The U.S. Department of Labor is a great place to start your research. Its Occupational Outlook
handbook includes information about jobs, earnings, titles, job descriptions, job markets and
potential new jobs. Note: The College of Extended Studies does not provide formal career
services as part of the health care program. From time to time, employers contact us
expressing interest in recruiting our students; in these cases, we can forward job position
announcements to graduates of our programs. Additionally, students report they found
valuable networking opportunities with other professionals in their classes.
Is the certification exam included with the course?
Fees for certification exams are not included in the program tuition, and CES staff do not
proctor or administer the certification exam for this course. You must make arrangements to
pay and take the certification exam on your own (see Certification section), but your instructor
will provide you with testing information during the class.
Will this certificate enable me to get a job in the pharmacy field?
This course is specifically designed to help you take and pass the national certification exam.
You will be given information and tools needed to work as a Pharmacy Technician. However,
we encourage you to do your own research on this profession prior to taking the course. CES
provides course training and does not assist with job placement.
How do I register?
1. Go to the Health Care Education registration web page.
2. Choose “Classroom-based Programs.”
3. Choose “Pharmacy Technician Training and Test Prep Certificate.” A detailed course
description will appear on the right-hand side.
4. Choose “Enroll Now” and a page with more details will appear — schedule number, term
dates, registration deadline, class location.
5. Choose your preferred method of registration from the three options below and proceed:
Online (credit card only)
• Click on the red “Enroll Now” button to add the course to your shopping cart. When done
adding all desired courses to your cart, click “Continue.”
• You will now be on the “4 Easy Steps to Register Online” page. Click “Continue.”
• You will now be on the CES Gateway Login page. Click “Continue.”
• If you have a Red ID (student ID), log in.
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• If this is your first term enrolling in SDSU/CES classes, click on “Create a New Account,”
follow instructions, and a Red ID will be generated.
Phone (credit card only)
• Call the CES Registration Office at (619) 594-5152. Please have all class details ready
(from step 4 above).
Paper (credit card, money order, and cash accepted if submitting form in person)
• Download the paper registration form from the CES website.
• Complete the form with your personal information and relevant course information
ready (from step 4 above).
Be sure to enroll no later than the registration deadline — usually the first day of class.
Late registrations are granted only in special circumstances and will incur additional fees.
What is the difference between obtaining a professional certificate through SDSU
and becoming a certified Pharmacy Technician?
Professional certificates, which are offered through the SDSU College of Extended Studies,
should not be confused with certifications, which are offered through third party, standardsetting organizations.
Professional certificates are awarded by educational programs or institutions and indicate
completion of a course or series of courses with a specific focus; they are typically listed on a
résumé detailing education. Pharmacy Technician Training and Test Prep is a noncredit
course and will not lead to credits for obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Professional
certificates are recognized by most employers as a significant academic accomplishment and
can lead to new jobs as well as promotions for those who obtain them. They are also usually
more relevant and focused for today’s workforce than academic degrees and can be
completed in a much shorter period of time. This course will prepare you for certification
exams (see Certification section).
Certifications are awarded by a third party, standard-setting organization such as the
American Society of Phlebotomy (ASP) (see Certification section) and indicate mastery of
skills measured against a set of standards usually by an application or an exam. Certification
exams require test takers to meet specific educational and/or experience criteria, as well as
to pass the written examination. We encourage you to research exam requirements for each
industry organization.
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Additional Information
Thank you for reviewing the program information. For additional information or to ask
specific questions not answered here, please contact Program Coordinator Olivia Salgado:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (619) 594-3297
Website: neverstoplearning.net/healthcare
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