 |
 |
 |
|
Emergency Medical & Allied Health Programs: Pharmacy Technician
Check for new courses coming soon!
REGISTRATION FORM
All Classes are held at:
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
400 West Stephen Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
Student Financial Aid Opportunities
Call for More Information
304-260-4380 ext 2302
sreneker@blueridgectc.edu
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 on the practice setting, a pharmacy technician is also involved in the admixture of drugs for intravenous use. Other duties include:
- checking inventories and ordering supplies
- receiving and checking in supplies
- assisting customers
- keeping pharmacy work areas clean
- complete insurance forms
- preparation of "bingo cards" for nursing home patients
Pharmacy Technicians may work in retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, home infusion pharmacies, long term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, pharmacy benefit managers and large industrial complexes. The demand for pharmacy technicians continues to grow with demand expected to increase substantially through 2008. This high demand is the result of constant availability of new drugs, the national shortage of registered pharmacist, the establishment of certified pharmacy technicians and the aging population.
Average Salary*
$18,500 - $29,000
Educational Requirements*
Students should have taken math and science in high school. A high school diploma or GED is required to sit for the PTCB exam.
This comprehensive 50 hour course will prepare students to enter the pharmacy field and to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's PTCB exam. Technicians work in hospitals, home infusion pharmacies, community pharmacy's and other health care settings - working under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. 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 billing and reimbursement. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Program includes a graded final exam to help prepare students for the PTCB exam.
