Pharmacy Technology Certificate of Achievement

Program Description

This certificate is designed to prepare the student for entry-level employment as a pharmacy technician, assisting pharmacists to provide medication and other healthcare products to patients; receiving and verifying written prescriptions, requests for prescription refills from patients, or electronic prescriptions sent from doctors’ offices; retrieving, counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and sometimes mixing medications; and preparing containers and labels for medications. Technicians may also establish and maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Students working for certificates must have a basic knowledge of elementary algebra, reading and writing in order to learn and work in the occupations they select.

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program.  Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway.  It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Division

Science

Department

Pharmacy Technology

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Health, Wellness, Athletics

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Prepare and distribute medicines to patients while working closely with pharmacists in hospitals, drug stores, and other medical settings.

  2. Examine prescription orders for accuracy and completeness.

  3. Use technology to maintain accurate patient records, prepare and package medicine, and process orders.

  4. Implement safety and cleanliness regulations, rules, and procedures.

  5. Demonstrate ethical leadership for the health care needs of our diverse communities.

  6. Solve sample questions aligning with the PTCB-Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

1st Semester

13 units
One course from the following:

This is an introductory course that explores biological concepts in our everyday lives as they are closely connected to racial, sociocultural, health, and environmental issues.  


 

Course Details:

This course is a one-semester introduction to human anatomy and physiology. The course is intended to meet the prerequisite for students entering allied health technician programs or general education requirements of a life science course with a laboratory.

Course Details:

    This is the first semester of a two-semester sequence that introduces students to the basic concepts and principles of human anatomy and physiology. This course provides a foundation for pre-allied professional majors or others interested in the advanced study of human biology. Topics include inorganic and organic chemistry, body orientation and organization, cytology, histology, fluid and electrolyte balances, and the following systems: nervous, skeletal, muscular, nervous, digestive system, and metabolism. Course includes dissections of preserved specimens.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Advisory: BIOL 100
      2. and
    2. Departmental Advisory: ENGL 101
      3. or
    3. Departmental Advisory: ENGL 101H
  1. Transfers to CSU
    2. This is a comprehensive lecture/laboratory course in human anatomy. It is organized to explore the body both regionally and systemically. The course studies gross anatomy with an extensive dissection of the cat and other significant organs.  Relevant comparisons to human systems and structures are emphasized in the laboratory portion of the course. Histological and cellular anatomy are included as they apply to various structures and systems.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Advisory: BIOL 155
  2. Transfers to CSU
    3. PHT 060
    Pharmacy Systems I
    This class introduces the student to the field of pharmacy, its history, environment, and processes. It emphasizes out-patient/community service pharmacy settings in issues of prescription processing, pharmacy business management, federal laws/regulation, protocol procedures, and pharmacy references/associations for assistance.

    Course Details:

    PHT 062
    Pharmacology I
    This course introduces the basic pharmacology principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as it applies the therapeutic uses of medications being administered to the human body systems. The student will identify the medication's classifications, emphasizing basic indications, drug dosages, dosage forms, routes of administration, side effects, special directions of use, and drug interactions with other medications, foods, and/or nutrient supplements.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: BIOL 100
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: BIOL 155
      3. or
    3. Prerequisite: BIOL 250
      4. or
    4. Prerequisite: BIOL 260
      5. or
    5. Prerequisite: CHEM 101
    PHT 064
    Pharmacy Calculations
    In this course students apply mathematical skills to the calculation of medication dosages, intravenous solutions, and pharmacy operations.

    Course Details:

    2nd Semester

    13 units
    PHT 070
    Pharmacy Systems II
    This course covers the application of advanced preparation, distribution and methods for dispensing medications within a institutional pharmacy setting. It emphasizes advanced concepts of medication order processing, non-sterile compounding, sterile compounding, pharmacy business management, data management, pharmacy safety, and pharmacy error prevention under the supervision of a pharmacist.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: PHT 060
    2. Prerequisite: PHT 062
    3. Prerequisite: PHT 064
    PHT 071
    Pharmacology II
    This course continues to apply the therapeutic uses of administered medications into the human anatomy and physiology by a drug's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Emphasis is placed on but not limited to a medication's brand/generic name, mechanisms of action, dosage forms, routes of administration, directions of use, standard dosage schedules, indications, basic side effects, adverse effects, contraindications, precautions, drug interactions, and any special black box warnings. Added topics to the course includes medication adjustments for special populations and use of common antidotes for medications.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: PHT 062
    PHT 072
    Pharmacy Clinical Experience
    In this course, students study the application of prescription processing, inventory management and dispensing of medications in a pharmacy under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. It emphasizes use of a pharmacy database, customer service, communication and professional ethics. Students will complete a minimum of 240 experiential hours in a minimum of one site locations.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: PHT 060
    2. Prerequisite: PHT 062
    3. Prerequisite: PHT 064
    4. Corequisite: PHT 074
    PHT 074
    Pharmacy Seminar
    This course reviews the duties of a pharmacy technician in the out-patient/community and the in-patient/institutional setting in the areas of pharmacy management/administration, pharmacy federal laws/regulation, and pharmacology.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: PHT 060
    2. Prerequisite: PHT 062
    3. Prerequisite: PHT 064
    4. Corequisite: PHT 072