Pharmacy Technician

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The demand for pharmacy professionals is increasing each year in response to the growth of an aging population and the development of new prescription drugs. Prairie State College’s (PSC) Pharmacy Technician healthcare vocational certificate course provides students with the necessary training and tools needed to enter the pharmacy field.

Certification
Upon successful completion of the Pharmacy Technician healthcare vocational certificate course, students may be eligible to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) national exam.

ABOUT THE CURRICULUM

Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals. This comprehensive 50-hour course prepares students to enter the pharmacy field and to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s exam. Technicians work in hospitals, home infusion pharmacies, community pharmacies, and other health care settings - working under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.

Course content includes medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Learn dosage calculations, I.V. flow rates, drug compounding, dose conversions, dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control, and billing and reimbursement.

JOB OUTLOOK

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 32 percent by 2020 with 108,300 technicians needed to fill jobs nationwide. A Brookings Institution index of economic recovery from July 2013 stated that the number of U.S. healthcare industry workers rose to 14.5 million from 11.9 million, a 22.7 percent increase between the first quarters of 2003 and 2013. Employment in other industry sectors grew just 2.1 percent over that same time period.

Experiential leaning opportunities may be available for students who successfully complete the Pharmacy Technician healthcare vocational certificate course.

Refer to the current course schedule for course dates and times or visit prairiestate.edu/noncredit.

For more information: wdceprofessions@prairiestate.eduat 708-709-2957.

WIOA APPROVED COURSE

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) has helped many individuals obtain new job skills and training to make them more employable. If you meet the eligibility requirements and funding is available, WIOA may help pay for your tuition, books, and other fees associated with college courses. The Pharmacy Technician Program is approved for WIOA funding for eligible individuals. For more information on WIOA, call (708) 709-7975.