PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

The Pharmacy Technician program is a 160 hour program. Both daytime and evening programs are available. The program combines classroom lecture with practical hands-on medical laboratory and real-world externship experience gathered in a pharmacy.

WHAT DOES A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN DO?

A Pharmacy Technicians primary job is to receive and fill prescription requests for patients.

The preparation of a prescription requires several tasks. The tasks carried out by pharmacy technicians include: retrieving prescription orders, counting, pouring, measuring and weighting tablets and medications, mixing medication/compounding, preparing insurance claim forms, and clinical duties. After the prescription is filled, a licensed pharmacist (RPH) checks the completed prescription prior to dispensing the medication to the patient.

Classroom instruction: 120 hours
Clinical instruction: 40 hours

WHERE DO PHARMACY TECHNICIANS WORK?

Pharmacy Technicians work in clean, organized environments in such locations as hospitals, medical stores, retail or mail-order pharmacies, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

 

  • Age 18 (by completion of training) or older
  • Admission/Application Fee - See tuition and rates
  • Authorized to work in the U.S. (Alien ID-If applicable)
  • Valid Identification (passport, driver’s license or state/federal issued ID)
  • Social Security Card
  • High school diploma or GED equivalent
  • Ability to pass criminal background check (provided by school) Students should have no felony convictions of any kind and must not have any drug-related or Pharmacy related convictions, including misdemeanors
  • Valid CPR (school provides service for an additional fee)
  • Drug Test 
  • 2 Covid Vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer) or 1 Covid Vaccine (Johnson+Johnson)

 

 

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

  • Immunization Record
  • TB Test, School will administer the skin test for a fee. (PPD skin test or a negative chest X-ray no older than a year is required)
  • Hepatitis B immunization (if declined, it must be waived in writing, form is available in our school administration office) 


Pharmacy Technician Program - Class Schedule (Roanoke on the Top, Charlottesville on the Bottom) 

Class: 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday for 5 weeks
Clinical: TBA (8 hours/day Monday - Friday for 1 week)

                                                    Roanoke

Start Date

End Date

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

                                                                    Charlottesville

Class: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday for 5 weeks
Clinical: TBA (Monday - Friday for 1 week)

Start Date

End Date

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

 

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

People who are interested in becoming a Pharmacy Technician are required to take CPR for Medical Professionals and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training prior to starting their clinical rotation. CPR/AED Training is offered by Fast Track for an additional fee. This fee is not included in tuition.

 

JOB OUTLOOK

Employment is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations.

 

NATIONAL CERTIFICATION

A high school diploma or GED is required to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) exam