Pharmacy Technician Course Descriptions
Pharmacy Technician Coursework
PT-1 General Pharmacy Principles & Standards (4 Credit Units, 3 Lecture + 1 Lab)
This module emphasizes on the pharmacy history, role of a technician, practice setting overview, patient communication, OTC medication and introduction to law, communication, and job development.
PT-2 Pharmacology (4 Credit Units)
This module covers the basic principles of Pharmacology with a focus on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic implications for major drug categories.
PT-3 Pharmaceutical Calculations (4 Credit Units, 3 Lecture + 1 Lab)
This module will assist the pharmacy technician student in developing the skills necessary to perform precise calculations when dealing with medication. Students will be able to interpret the written prescription, determine safe dosages and quantities to prepare and dispense for various routes of administration. Mathematic principles will also be applied to do the necessary calculations used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and parenteral solutions for both pediatric and adult populations.
PT-4 Retail Pharmacy Operations & Procedures (4 Credit Units)
The module covers the operations side of retail pharmacy, over the counter medications, alternative medicine, vitamins, and minerals, and anti-inflammatory and antihistamines. Students learn trade and generic names, drug classifications, indications, dosages, routes of administration, and side effects.
PT-5 Pharmacy Law (4 Credit Units)
This module explores laws that govern the field, and the legal duties and responsibilities of both the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician are discussed. Students are introduced to various drug reference books and learn to utilize certain resources effectively. Students gain familiarity with regulatory agencies and their functions including DEA, NAPB, State Boards, FDA, JACHO, ASHP, and CSHP.
PT-6 Internal Medicine (4 Credit Units)
The module covers the digestive, reproductive, and endocrine systems, as well as vaccines. Students will learn internal and external customer care. Students will learn to decipher physician’s orders, pharmaceutical calculations, medical terminology, and lecture specific prescription drugs.
PT-7 Sterile Preparations (4 Credit Units, 3 Lecture+1 Lab) This module provides comprehensive instruction for the successful preparation of compounded sterile parenteral preparations, a major responsibility of the pharmacy personnel in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare. This requires mastery of aseptic technique, the procedures that ensure patient safety and consistent, pathogen-free products.
PT-8 Hospital Pharmacy Operations & Procedures (4 Credit Units) This module will prepare students to function in a hospital pharmacy setting. The student will practice purchasing, inventory, and quality assurance in the lab, hospital, or long- term care environment.
PT-9 Insurance & Inventory (4 Credit Units)
This module covers the basics insurance claims forms for a variety of providers, including Group Plan Insurances, PPOs, Worker’s Compensation and Federal and State Disability. Students will learn pharmacy billing in various pharmacy settings and how to expedite the handling and processing of online insurance claims. In addition, students will learn about the importance of purchasing and inventory control.
PT-10 Internships (12 Credit Units)
Prior to internship placement, students must meet all classroom requirements. He/she is then assigned to an approved ASHP standard hospital pharmacy, retail/community pharmacy, home health-care pharmacy, and managed care pharmacy, drug application (NDA), and the marketing authorization application (international). The role of the investigator, coordinator, sponsor, clinical research associate and monitor are discussed. Individuals are exposed to the skills necessary to function as a successful study monitor.
CRC-6 Clinical Trial Administration & Management (4 Credit Units)
An overview of the development contents and process of the clinical research study. Topics include protocols, case report forms, investigator brochures, informed consent, institutional review boards and statement of investigator form 1572. Designed to give clinical research associates and coordinators the skills necessary to manage large and small projects such as research protocols and studies. Students develop, manage, and present a project using the computer, utilizing techniques such as charts, critical paths, written reports, and visual presentations. Projects are tracked and managed using comparisons of initial baselines of forecasts with ongoing and final results.