Pharmacy Technician Program

With the national pharmacist shortage and the expected 30% increase in the number of prescriptions dispensed over the next few years, the need for better skilled pharmacy technicians has risen dramatically. These skilled technicians are performing their ever-changing expanding job responsibilities under the direct supervision of registered pharmacists. These drug preparation duties may include interpreting prescription orders, maintaining patient records, packaging and labeling medication, maintaining drug supply, inventory, billing and crediting patients, compounding medications, preparing sterile products, and performing computer entries.

Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, community pharmacies, long-term care facilities, home health care agencies, clinic pharmacies, mail order pharmacies and drug wholesalers. The job prospects for pharmacy technicians are excellent. Salaries and benefits vary according to experience, ability, geographic location, and types of pharmacy practice. Completion of the program does not guarantee employment.

The Pharmacy Technician Program follows the national standards of the model curriculum for pharmacy technicians and is fully accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), located at: 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 657-3000, web site: www.ashp.org. The Pharmacy Technician Program is recognized as an approved training program by the Indiana State Board of Pharmacy. The State of Illinois requires a pharmacy technician license for internship and employment in a pharmacy. As of January 2010, a pharmacy technician must pass the certification examination to work in the state of Ilinois.

Prior to enrolling in the Pharmacy Technician program, students are advised to review the applicable licensure/certification procedures and requirements and state laws of the profession to ensure that they are eligible to receive a license/certification following completion of the Pharmacy Technician program at South Suburban College. Eligibility for licensure may be limited by the results of a criminal background investigation and possible drug screening.

Technicians assisting pharmacists in the preparation and dispensing of medications can be trained through this fully-accredited certificate program. The full certificate program includes training in aseptic IV preparation, medication order processing, inventories, packaging, compounding, use of a prescription balance, and computers. Other pertinent courses are pharmacy math, pharmacy law, pharmacology, medical terminology and human body structure. This 36-credit hour certificate program meets in the evening and can be taken either on a part-time or full-time basis. Students are admitted to the Pharmacy Technician Program each fall or spring semester. General education requirements can be taken at any time.

Currently a six credit hour course entitled PHT 115-Fundamentals of Pharmacy Tech Practice is being offered as an abbreviated alternative to the certificate program. PHT 115 was developed in response to the growing demand for more entry-level community pharmacy technicians and is not intended to replace the Pharmacy Technician accredited certificate program option. Students who successfully complete the PHT 115 course and who wish to enroll in the ASHP accredited pharmacy technician certificate program will receive a waiver for the PHT 100-Pharmacy Technician Orientation course.

A grade of “C” or better is required in all program and general education courses. In addition to the coursework, students perform 300 supervised hours in various pharmacy settings. For students with no prior employment in a pharmacy, the internships will require an equal number of hours in a community and a hospital pharmacy. If a student is employed in a pharmacy, the internships will be customized to recognize this previous experience. With the approval of the program coordinator and the academic administrator, currently employed pharmacy technicians may be granted credit for up to 75 internship hours towards completion of the appropriate internship course.

The State of Illinois requires a pharmacy technician license prior to the beginning of the internship. The Indiana State Board of Pharmacy requires Board approval before the student begins the internship. The program coordinator will provide the application for a pharmacy technician license at the appropriate time or will provide the information regarding the Indiana Board approval at the appropriate time. Please note that it takes approximately eight weeks to receive the required paperwork from the states.

Due to the nature of internships, most assignments are for the daytime shifts. Internship assignments are at the discretion of the program coordinator. Students are responsible for transportation to and from the internship sites.

Students must have a white lab jacket for use in the Pharmacy Technician Courses that include a lab section, and for their Internships. Completion of the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program does not fulfill the pre-pharmacy admission requirements for most senior college/university pharmacy programs. Please contact the Transfer Center for additional information.

1. Submit an SSC Admissions Application and forward all high school, as well as other college transcripts, directly to the Office of Admissions and Records.

2. Submit the Pharmacy Technician Program Admission Application form to the Program Coordinator no later than November 15 for Spring admission or May 1 for Fall admission.

Although priority for admission will be given to applicants who meet the published application deadline date, application forms will be accepted throughout the entire academic cycle. Residents of South Suburban College’s District will be given first priority for admission into the program. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the program.

Admission to the Pharmacy Technician Program requires successful completion of all developmental course(s) if indicated on the Placement test. If indicated by the Placement test scores, students must successfully complete all indicated developmental reading, English and math coursework. A student must place beyond MTH 095-Elementary Algebra or pass the course with a grade of “C” or better and receive a “C” or better in both BIO 115-Human Body Structure and MDR 102-Fundamentals of Medical Terminology in order to be accepted to the Pharmacy Technician Program. In addition, the student must have computer literacy skills, or have concurrent enrollment in a computer course and have a typing proficiency of 25 wpm.

A potential student should take the placement test prior to scheduling an appointment with the program coordinator. For placement test information, please contact the Testing Center at (708) 596-2000 ext. 2495.