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The Center for Continuing Education
Midwestern State University
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• Pharmacy Tech
Price: $1995.00
Hours: 300
It is estimated that the pharmacy technician education market is growing at a compound annual rate of 14 percent over 2003-2006. Demand for pharmacy technicians is growing along with the surging demand for pharmacy services. Factors driving this demand include an aging U.S. population and the increasing prevalence of prescribed medication to treat illness. Additionally, a shortage of pharmacists, and the opportunity for better-educated pharmacy technicians to fill some of the pharmacist's historical duties, is driving employment potential.
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The Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program was developed in response to a rising need for trained technicians to work in either the hospital or retail pharmacy setting. In recent years, the Pharmacy Technician profession has become indispensable to the health care field. A nationwide shortage of pharmacists and a growing consumer demand for prescription medications have allowed pharmacy technicians the opportunity to play a continually more important role in today's pharmacy industry. With this growing opportunity, however, has also come increased responsibility, and this increased responsibility has made Pharmacy Technician Certification an important issue for many industry employers and even to some state legislatures. Some states now require all individuals who work as pharmacy technicians to become nationally certified.
A pharmacy technician is an individual who, under the supervision of a pharmacist, assists in the performance of activities of the pharmacy department not requiring the professional judgment of a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians assist and support licensed pharmacists in providing health care to patients. Pharmacy Technicians have been called pharmacy helpers, pharmacy clinicians, pharmacy support personnel and various other titles, depending on their location. In all parts of the country, pharmacy technicians must have a broad knowledge of pharmacy practice and must be skilled in the techniques required to order, stock, package, and prepare medications, but they do not need the advanced college education required of a licensed pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians may perform many of the same duties as a pharmacist; however, all of their work must be checked by a pharmacist before medication can be dispensed to a patient.
This program will prepare students for entry-level pharmacy technician positions. Medical and pharmaceutical terminology will be introduced, and basic anatomy related to the pharmacology of medications will be a major component of the coursework along with pharmaceutical calculations. This program will provide students with the necessary information required to pass the National Certification Exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
As a part of the Pharmacy Technician certificate program, students will be required to perform clinical rotations. Clinical rotations will include 20 hours of retail experience and 20 hours of hospital experience. The students, in their hometowns, will choose institutions to complete this requirement. Once the student has located a facility, and made contact, they will notify the instructor. The instructor will then contact the facility to speak with the pharmacist in charge. In the event that clinical sites cannot be found, a research project for each area will be assigned.
The curriculum consists of:
- Ethics of Pharmacy Practice and Role of Pharmacy Technicians
- Prescription Medications
- Patient Care and Interaction
- Charges and Reimbursement
- Medical and Pharmaceutical terminology
- Pharmaceutical calculations
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For more information call Midwestern State University’s
Center for Continuing Education at (940) 397-4756
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