5 More Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Coming Soon

Many community colleges have chosen to meet the increasing demand for highly trained pharmacy technicians by developing training courses.

Technician training programs help students cultivate the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the changing pharmacy environment, and also prepare them to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. Some states even require technicians to complete an accredited course before working in a pharmacy.

Information about more schools that have recently opened technician training programs can be found here.

Belmont College

Belmont College in St. Clairsville, Ohio, will offer a pharmacy technician training course during its fall semester. The 50-hour program provides both technical and practical instruction to students, preparing them to take the PTCB exam and enabling them to find employment as entry-level technicians.

Students who complete the program will receive a Pharmacy Technician Certificate of Completion from the college and then be able to participate in an 80-hour clinical externship with a local pharmacy at no cost.

The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 pm to 9:30 pm EST beginning October 27, 2015, and ending December 17, 2015.

Those seeking more information about the program should call the college’s Workforce and Community Education Office at 740-699-3869.

College of the Redwoods

Another technician training program will soon be offered at the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California.

This 50-hour program will cover topics such as pharmacy calculations, medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, dosage calculations, and IV flow rates. The course will be instructed by Ken Robinson, PharmD, a staff pharmacist at Mad River Community Hospital.

The class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 pm to 9 pm PST beginning September 27, 2015, and ending November 16, 2015. The enrollment cost is $1199.

Those seeking addition information about the program or wishing to register should call the college’s Community Education program at 707-476-4500.

Illinois Valley Community College

Students at Illinois Valley Community College are now able to enroll in the school’s technician training program.

The course, offered through the college’s Continuing Education Office, will use both classroom lectures and hands-on labs to cover a variety of relevant topics, including medical terminology, pharmacy calculations and measurements, and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Students who successfully complete the 50-hour program will be eligible to participate in a clinical externship in a local pharmacy.

The class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning October 5, 2015, and ending November 30, 2015. The cost to enroll in the course is $1199, which includes a textbook and other materials.

Those seeking additional information or who wish to register can call 815-224-0427.

Iowa Western Community College

As part of its recent effort to provide continuing education classes to aspiring medical professionals, Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, will soon offer its own pharmacy technician training course.

The course, which begins October 6, 2015, and lasts until February 2, 2016, will use both classroom lectures and hands-on labs to prepare students for work in a hospital or retail pharmacy. Students will also be required to complete an 80-hour externship.

Those seeking more information or wishing to enroll can call 712-325-3259 or e-mail skleffman@iwcc.edu.

Tri-County Technical College

Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, South Carolina, will soon implement some important changes to its technician training program.

Although a technician certificate program has existed at the college for several years, it will now be offered as a 1-year diploma program through the school’s Health Education Division. The new program has received approval from the State Technical College Board and accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The 45-hour, 3-semester program will use both classroom lectures and hands-on clinical experience to prepare students to work in hospital and retail pharmacies, research laboratories, home health care agencies, and other health and personal care industries.

The program is coordinated and instructed by Ann Barnes, PharmD, a pharmacist with more than 15 years of experience.

“The pharmacy technicians are the operational aspect of the pharmacy. They are the nuts and bolts of pharmacy, its heart and soul,” Dr. Barnes said in a press release. “They are the first and last person a customer sees when visiting the pharmacy for prescriptions. A well-trained technician will connect with the customers.”