Allied Health Education - Pharmacy Technician Certificate

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PGM Code – 399C

Program Description The Pharmacy Technician Training Program prepares students for the role of support personnel in hospital, community and other pharmacy settings. Pharmacy technicians provide assistance to the pharmacist in a variety of technical tasks involving the packaging, distribution, compounding, labeling, and recording of drugs. Knowledgeable, experienced professionals will guide students in their clinical coursework, which is supervised by the college.

The Pharmacy Technician Program is a three-quarter instructional and clinical program with preliminary requirements that must be completed before program entry. Admission to the program is outlined in two stages: preliminary requirements and final program admission.

Prerequisites Applicants must be 18 years of age and provide proof of graduation from an accredited high school or GED. Proof of completion of the prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 or equivalent is required to enroll in the certificate classes. Course substitutions are allowed. Students with previous healthcare training may be able to waive prerequisites on adviser approval. Students must see their Allied Health program adviser to complete this process. New students must contact Enrollment Services at 425.640.1458 for their initial advising appointment.

Students must apply to the Washington State Department of Health – Board of Pharmacy to obtain licensure as a Pharmacy Assistant before entering into Clinical Work Experience. This will include a criminal background check. Some employers/externship sites may require a drug test prior to employment.

In the clinical/work environment, candidates must:

• Verify immunizations, tuberculin status and/or chest x-ray
• Be able to lift 10 to 20 pounds repetitively
• Be able to stand, reach, grasp, and use fine motor skills often*

*Physical requirements may change depending on the individual situation and accommodations

Common Course Numbering Please refer to www.edcc.edu/ccn for more information.

Credit/Grade Requirements This Certificate requires successful completion of a minimum of 39 credits as outlined. A minimum of 30 credits or one-third of the required credits, whichever is less, must be earned at Edmonds Community College. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all college-level courses.

Students must achieve a grade of 2.5 or higher in all Pharmacy Technician courses. Upon completion of the program, students must pass the National Certification Exam before receiving license. Visit the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam or the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board for more information. Required program courses may only be repeated once.

Students Are Advised To

Plan their schedule several quarters in advance in order to accommodate courses that are offered only once or twice a year,
Review the college catalog for required course prerequisites and include these in schedule planning, and
Communicate with a faculty adviser.

Graduation Application A completed Graduation Application form must be submitted to Enrollment Services by the 10th day of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate. Forms are available online or at Enrollment Services located in Lynnwood Hall. Note applications for summer quarter are due by the 8th day of the quarter.

Department website
Allied Health | www.edcc.edu/ahe

Gainful Employment
Gainful employment information is available for this program.

Advising Note

This program requirement sheet is not a substitute for meeting with an academic adviser. Meeting the requirements to graduate with an Edmonds Community College certificate or degree is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

Certificate Prerequisites (minimum 17 credits)

The Pharmacy Technician certificate requires the following prerequisites before beginning any of the certifications. Substitutions are allowed and students with previous health care training may be able to waive prerequisites on adviser approval.

AHE 110 - The Human Body: Structure and Function 5.0 Credits
AHE 115 - CPR: Allied Health 1.0 Credits OR
HLTH 105 - Emergency Response/CPR 4.0 Credits
AHE 116 - Introduction to Healthcare 4.0 Credits
BSTEC 104 - Medical Terminology Maximum of 3.0 possible Credits
BSTEC 129 - PC Basics 3.0 Credits OR
BSTEC 130 - Computer Fundamentals 5.0 Credits OR
CIS 100 - Introduction to Business Computing 5.0 Credits
SHS 170 - HIV/AIDS Training for Health Professionals 1.0 Credits

Prerequisite Signatures

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Adviser’s Signature and Date

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Dean’s Signature and Date

Program Requirements (39 credits)

This program may be completed in one year (including prerequisites) or you may complete it on a part time basis.
Courses need to be taken in a specific order, be sure to contact your program adviser for specific course choices.
Pharmacy Technician Certificate Requirements (39 credits)

Program Requirements Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Program Learning Requirements for this degree, students will be able to:

Function as members of a health care team using appropriate medical language to effectively communicate.
Perform duties safely and effectively within their scope of practice, while treating patients with compassion, empathy and respect.
Apply problem solving and critical thinking skills within the scope of their practice in coordination with team members to foster good patient outcomes.
Create patient profiles, prescription order entry, and fill prescriptions with acceptable speed and accuracy.
Identify the required information to successfully complete the required National Certification Exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
Have knowledge of current Washington State Law as it applies to pharmacy.

Signatures