Pharmacy Technician Program
Pharmacy Technician Program
The Pharmacy Technician Program is a three-quarter instructional and clinical program with preliminary requirements that should be completed before program entry. Admission to the program is outlined in two stages: preliminary requirements and final program admission.
Preliminary Requirements:
Applicants must be 18 years of age and provide proof of graduation from an accredited high school or GED. Prior to beginning Pharmacy Technician coursework, the prerequisite courses must be satisfactorily completed (see planning sheet).
Program Progression:
In order to progress from one course or quarter to the next the student must:
- Achieve a grade of 2.5 or higher in all Pharmacy Technician courses. Scoring 75% or higher on the final comprehensive program exam.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA per EdCC college catalog.
- Not repeat any required program course more than once.
Students shall meet all curriculum objectives and competencies in order to graduate. Upon program completion, students will apply for licensure with the Department of Health Board of Pharmacy.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM
The program consists of a combination of didactic and clinical experiences. Students receive instruction from Edmonds Community College teachers and registered pharmacy practitioners. The program consists of 36 credit hours and 506 contact hours. All courses are listed on the planning sheet.
The program utilizes a demonstration mock pharmacy lab area for multiple instructional purposes: hands-on, lecture visual aids, classroom activities. The Clinical portion of the program is 165 contact hours in two separate experiences of 80 hours minimum each or 1 experience of 165 hours. Students will be encouraged to choose clinical experiences in both a hospital and community or retail setting. The pharmacies include acute care hospitals, home infusion, managed care, community and retail pharmacies, LTC settings, and managed care clinic pharmacies.
Clinical sites are recruited, trained and supervised by a Program Coordinator. No site can accept student placement until an Edmonds Community College Clinical Work Experience Agreement is in place. Students in a clinical experience are visited a minimum of three times by the Program Coordinator. The initial visit is within the first two weeks of student placement, the second at midpoint in the quarter (approximately week five), and the third visit is prior to week ten, the end of the placement rotation. Students are also contacted weekly by telephone when they are on site.
Students are responsible for understanding and performing the pharmacy technician job duties of that particular setting in which they are assigned. The students must demonstrate understanding of the technician utilization plan for each site per written evaluation by site personnel (pharmacist, and technician if applicable) and program Coordinator on the competency statements listed in the practicum manual.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
The Pharmacy Technician Training Program shall assure the competency of pharmacy technicians to aid and assist pharmacy operations and shall consist of instruction and practical training.
Embedded within the programs courses are instruction and evaluation to assure that students:
- Demonstrate the ability to learn by asking pertinent and purposeful questions; seek out and utilize appropriate resources; and accept responsibility for mistakes and learn from experiences.
- Demonstrate the ability to read, comprehend and follow written materials; communicate clearly in writing; work with mathematical procedures appropriate for a pharmacy technician.
- Demonstrate effective listening and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrate creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Exhibit professional behavior, a positive/constructive attitude, and excellent work habits with the ability to set appropriate priorities/goals.
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills; works within appropriate authority and decision-making channels; meets the expectations of the organization;
- Bring a sense of values and integrity to the job by behaving in an ethical manner with respect for the diversity of co-workers, customers, and patients.
