Pharmacy Technician

DIPLOMA IN PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATE IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

Pharamacist getting prescription from shelfAbout the Career

Under the direction of registered pharmacists, professional technicians prepare medication in various forms for dispensing to patients. Entering and extracting accurate information from patient profiles and other data requires knowledge of medications, inventory, purchasing, equipment operation and record keeping as it relates to pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians develop expertise in preparing medications for dispensing.

Most pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies and hospitals, while a small number are employed by mail order and Internet pharmacies, clinics, pharmaceutical wholesalers, home health organizations, teaching and the federal government. Employment for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow through 2010 due to the increased pharmaceutical needs of the aging population. With advances in science, more medications are becoming available to treat more conditions.

 

Pharmacist Technician checking medicineAbout the Program

The Pharmacy Technology programs at Midlands Technical College are designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a modern pharmacy environment. Students learn medications’ uses, actions and side effects. A very important aspect of practice within the profession is proper preparation for dispensing of medication to patients.

Students learn to operate pharmacy computer equipment to work with profiles, pharmacy data, labels, charges, credits and inventory control, and to prepare medications. They will become extremely familiar with pharmacy equipment and its application in supplying patients with medications in appropriate dosage, and forms for the appropriate route of administration.