Pharmacy Technician Technical Certificate

Pharmacy Technician Program Description

This short-term technical certificate prepares students to work as a pharmacy technician in a variety of settings including retail, hospitals, and long-term care or rehabilitation facilities. Knowledge and skills in basic pharmacology are covered including preparing and distributing pharmaceutical products and record-keeping processes. Students completing all courses in this program with a final grade of “C” or better will have the opportunity to participate in a 210 directed practice experience, reinforcing knowledge and skills learned in the classroom at a dispensing pharmacy.

Program Outcomes:

• Demonstrate knowledge and competence to accurately and safely perform as a pharmacy technician.
• Apply concepts of safety and accuracy to perform within the scope of practice for a pharmacy technician including sterile compounding, nonsterile compounding, pharmaceutical calculations, inventory control, and repackaging, and drug dispensing.
• Complete a 210-hour experiential hands-on directed practice at a hospital or community-based pharmacy.
• Successfully pass a national pharmacy technician certification examination required for employment in the state of Ohio.

Accreditation:

Pharmacy technicians must complete an accredited program and register with the state of Ohio by April, 2019. Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science will seek ASHP/ ACPE accreditation for this program.
https://www.ashp.org/Professional-Development/Technician-Program-Accreditation/Starting-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Training-Program/Fee-Schedule-for-School-College-Health-System

Certification

Students successfully completing this technical certificate will sit for a national pharmacy technical certification examination.

• CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) offered by the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)

Pharmacy Technician Technical Certificate Curriculum

Credit Hours: 24
Contact Hours: 630 contact hours (Didactic 307.5; Simulated = 112.5; Experiential = 210)

First Semester:

• ALH110 Medical Terminology (3 credit hours: 3 lecture, 0 lab)
• MTH 107 Math for Health Science (3 credit hours: 3 lecture, 0 lab)
• PHT 131 Principles of Pharmacy Technician I (4 credit hours: 3 lecture, 1 lab)

Second Semester:

• PHT 132 Principles of Pharmacy Technician II(5 credit hours: 3 lecture, 2 lab)
• BIO 101 Human Biology (3 credit hours, 2 lecture, 1 lab)

Third Semester:

• PHT 133 Pharmacy Technician Practicum (3 credit hours: 1 lecture, 2 practicum = 210 hours)
• COM 101 Interpersonal Communication (3 credit hours: 3 lecture, 0 lab)

Course Descriptions

PHT 131 Principles of Pharmacy Technician I (4 credit hours: 3 lecture, 1 lab)

This course will emphasize the duties and responsibilities of the pharmacy technician including the scope of practice, medication orders and prescriptions, introduction to principles of pharmacology, medication dosage calculations, and handling infectious and hazardous waste. The simulated lab component of this course includes approximately 38 hours of hands-on practice assisting in the collection, organizing, and recording patient demographic and clinical information, receiving and screening prescriptions and medication orders for completeness, accuracy, and authenticity, and utilizing effective communication skills.

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the pharmacy technician program.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Discuss governmental legislation and regulation including HIPAA, OSHA, CDC, FDA, DHHS, CMS, DEA.
2. Describe the various types of computer systems used in the pharmacy setting.
3. Accurately interpret medication orders and prescriptions and perform dosage calculations using ratio and proportions and conversions.
4. Explain the factors that may cause medication errors and steps to minimize those errors.
5. Demonstrate principles of basic pharmacology including drug classifications, routes of administration, usual dosages, side effects, and adverse reactions.
6. Discuss the major types of drug distribution methods used in healthcare facilities including unit dose distribution.
7. Use effective communication skills in pharmacy practice including medical terminology and abbreviations.

PHT 132 Principles of Pharmacy Technician II (5 credit hours: 3 lecture, 2 lab)

This course will continue to build on the professional responsibilities of the pharmacy technician including the addition of sterile compounding, nonsterile compounding, inventory control, assisting with medication reconciliation, and applying safety and quality assurance practices in the pharmacy. The simulated lab component of this course includes 75 hours of hands-on practice applying the knowledge and skills necessary to perform competently and accurately as a pharmacy technician.
Prerequisites: ALH 101, MAT107, BIO 101, and PHT 131

Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe qualities of professionalism expected of healthcare professionals individually and when interacting with others (customers, other health care professionals).
2. Compound sterile and nonsterile products utilizing the proper technique.
3. Describe the principles of intravenous admixture programs in a pharmacy.
4. Utilize computer systems used in the pharmacy setting as part of the simulation experience.
5. Demonstrate competence in interpreting medication orders and prescriptions.
6. Perform dosage calculations using ratio and proportions and conversions and prepare products with accuracy.
7. Apply principles of inventory control and supply management applicable to the pharmacy setting.

PHT 133 Pharmacy Technician Practicum (3 credit hours: 1 lecture, 2 practicum = 210 hours)

This course consists of a supervised 210-hour, unpaid practicum experience allowing real-world experience as a pharmacy technician in a hospital-based pharmacy. Eligibility to take this course includes successfully completing all courses in the pharmacy technician technical certificate program, a 2.0 GPA, registration with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee, and a current credential for pharmacy technicians (CPhT or PTCB).
Prerequisites: PHT 132, ENG 101

Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate professional behaviors required for employment as a pharmacy technician and member of the healthcare team.
2. Apply the knowledge and skills necessary for a pharmacy technician in an actual pharmacy setting.
3. Obtain proficient ratings on all assessments related to this practicum experience.

BIO101 Human Biology (3 credit hours: 2 lecture, 1 lab)

This course will focus on the basic structure and function of the human body including cytology and the following body systems: integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular (blood, heart, and blood vessels), lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and male/female reproductive.
Prerequisites: None

MTH107 Math for Health Science (3 credit hours: 3 lecture, 0 lab)

This course focuses on mathematics used in health science applications including a review of math computations using fractions, decimals and percentages, converting within and between metric, household, and apothecary systems; reading and interpreting graphs commonly found in health science, and calculating and applying basic statistical concepts.
Prerequisites: None

COM 101 Interpersonal Communication (3 credit hours: 3 lecture, 0 lab)

Focuses on the process of interpersonal communication as adynamic and complex system of interactions. Provides theory, actual practice, and criticism for examining and changing human interactions in work, family, and social contexts. Includes topics such as perception, self-concept language, message encoding, and decoding, feedback, listening skills, conflict management, teamwork, and other elements affecting interpersonal communication in various world contexts.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand principles and behaviors that contribute to effective interpersonal communication in various world contexts.
2. Apply interpersonal communication theory and principles in a variety of evolving communication contexts.
3. Identify causes of and strategies to manage interpersonal conflict.
4. Apply principle of composition, such as research and documentation, to the theory and practice of interpersonal communication

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