Pharmacy Technician Career Overview
The pharmacy technician prepares medications under the direction of a pharmacist. This person may measure, mix, count, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders in a retail pharmacy or a hospital pharmacy environment.
Job Duties may include:
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications and type and affix labels.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
- Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
- Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into a computer.
- Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
Pharmacy Technician Career Training Program Overview
The Pharmacy Technician Program is a dynamic and engaging educational experience designed to prepare aspiring pharmacy technicians with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on training necessary for success as a pharmacy technician. This program combines rigorous coursework with practical, real-world application to prepare students for a rewarding career in pharmacy.
This is a 400+ hour hybrid program that will be completed within 18 weeks. The didactic portion of the program is completed online and contains graded quizzes, unit exams, midterm, and final exam. The simulation portion of the program is observed and graded by local instructors, and you will come to campus weekly for this portion. The experiential portion of the program is completed at designated pharmacy sites with an assigned preceptor.
You will need to be prepared to spend 25 hours minimum weekly in this course. The course will conclude with you sitting for the national certification exam. The tuition includes all online components, supplies, and exam. Additional costs include a background check, drug screen, physical, scrubs, and registration to the Board of Pharmacy.
Certifications and Need to Know Information:
The Pharmacy Technician program is affiliated with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Students are eligible to sit for the PTCB Pharmacy Technician certification exam (PTCE) upon successful completion of the Pharmacy Technician course.
Employment Outlook
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What funding options are available?
The Pharmacy Technician Program is a FastForward program and is also eligible for the G3 scholarship. Eligible residents who have been living in Virginia for at least one year may qualify for FastForward and pay only one-third of the cost of tuition. Since this is also a G3 program, you may be eligible for last-dollar funding, bringing your total tuition to $0. Please review the G3 information page, which outlines income qualifications and if you think you qualify or if you have any questions, please contact our operations team at 540-868-7021 to get registered.
Additional financial assistance, grant funding, and Sallie Mae loans are available here for eligible students.