Washington State Community College

Pharmacy Technology

Certificate of Completion

Pharmacy Technicians work in pharmacies under the direction of a pharmacist. Their main responsibility is filling prescriptions according to doctors’ orders. Pharmacy Technicians prepare medications for dispensing to patients. This generally includes retrieving drugs in the correct dosage form and strength, measuring the appropriate amount of drug, and producing a prescription label. Pharmacy Technicians work with drugs to be administered orally, topically, for the eye, nose, etc. Depending upon the practice setting, a Pharmacy Technician is also involved in the mixture of drugs for intravenous use. Other duties include the following:

• Checking inventories & ordering supplies
• Pricing and filling prescriptions
• Assisting customers & maintaining patient profiles
• Keeping pharmacy work areas clean
• Completing insurance forms 

Employment & Education

Pharmacy Technicians may work in retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, home infu­sion pharmacies, long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, and large industrial complexes – working under the super­vision of a licensed pharmacist.

Educational Requirements

Students should have taken math and science in high school. A high school diploma or GED is required to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Program

This certificate will pre­pare students to enter the pharmacy field and to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination.

Course content includes medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Students will learn dosage calcu­lations, I.V. flow rates, drug compounding, dose conversions, dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control and billing and reimburse­ment.

For national certification eligibility requirements please visit www.ptcb.org or call 1-800-363-8012.

Required Courses

• Medical Terminology I (HLTH 1810)
• Medical Terminology II (HLTH 1820)
• Pharmacology Terminology (HLTH 1830)
• Pharmacy Technician I (HLTH 1840)
• Pharmacy Technician II (HLTH 1850)
• Pharmacology Math (MATH 1100)

Contact to learn more:

Admissions
740.568.1900
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dixie Vaughan, Ph.D.
740.374.8716, ext. 1705
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.