Pharmacy Technician Program
Division of Health Sciences and Nursing
Program Mission
The mission of the Pharmacy Technician program is to provide strong foundations in pharmaceutical knowledge, integration, and application in order to support pharmacists in the safe and efficient preparation of medications.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the Pharmacy Technician Program will be able to:
- Prepare prescriptions and medication orders for distribution (preparing, labeling and packaging) under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
- Calculate prescription or medication order dosage through application of pharmacy math.
- Apply effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills with a diverse set of patients, team members, and healthcare personnel to improve the pharmaceutical care of patients.
- Facilitate the prescription filling process in compliance with pharmacy laws, ethical standards and principles of patient confidentiality.
- Classify commonly used prescription and non-prescription drugs according to therapeutic class and indication.
Student achievement related to Program Learning Outcomes is assessed systematically and results are made available on the Program Review webpage.
Campuses/Sites Offered
- Hammond Area Campus (Hammond)
Programmatic Accreditation
Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
Outcomes Data:
Pioneer Rx Pharmacy Software
Northshore Technical Community College Pharmacy Technician Program partners with PioneerRx Pharmacy Software. PioneerRx enhances our curriculum with a hands-on approach to learning that simulates the functions and workflow of a pharmacy. By partnering with PioneerRx Pharmacy Software, our program allows students to learn in a real-world environment using the most installed software for independent pharmacies. Students enhance their clinical and functional skills by training in a pharmacy system that is innovative, robust, and feature-rich. For more information about the software, visit PioneerRX.com.
Students will simulate prescription processing, which includes (but is not limited to):
- Entering new prescriptions
- Verifying patient information; including mediation history, allergies, disease states, and drug interactions
- Entering new patients and providers to a database
- Entering insurance information
- Create labels for filling
- Simulation of adjudication of insurance
Certificate of Technical Studies in Pharmacy Technician
The following criteria must be satisfied towards completion of the Certificate of Technical Studies in Pharmacy Technician:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HPHM 1200 | Pharmacy Tech Practice I | 3 |
| HPHM 1405 | Fund. of Pharm. Tech Math | 2 |
| HPHM 1505 | Pharm Tech Practice Lab I | 2 |
| HPHM 1510 | Pharmacology I | 2 |
| HPHM 1205 | Pharmacy Practice II | 2 |
| HPHM 1515 | Pharmacology II | 2 |
| HPHM 1525 | Pharmacy Practice Lab II | 2 |
| HPHM 1605 | Pharmacy Practice Lab III | 2 |
| HPHM 2005 | Professionalism for Pharm Tech | 3 |
| HPHM 2125 | Pharm Tech Clinical Ext I | 4 |
| HPHM 2130 | Pharmacy Clinical Ext. II | 4 |
| HPHM 2135 | Pharmacy Clinical Ext III | 4 |
| HPHM 2991 | Special Projects I | 1 |
| HMDT 1170 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| CPTR 1000 | Introduction to Computers | 2 |
| CSRV 1000 | Customer Service | 3 |
| SPCH 1015 | Introduction to Speaking | 3 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Additional Exit Points:
Associate of General Studies
The highest exit point in the Pharmacy Technician program is the Associate of General Studies (AGS). The following criteria must be satisfied towards the completion of the Associate of General Studies (AGS):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of General Studies | 30 | |
General Education Core | ||
General Education Electives | ||
| Pharmacy Technician Elective Courses* | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
*It is recommended that students complete the Certificate of Technical Studies in Pharmacy Technician as the 30 credit hours needed for completion of the Associate of General Studies.
Career and Technical Certificate (CTC) in Pharmacy Clerk:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HPHM 1200 | Pharmacy Tech Practice I | 3 |
| CSRV 1000 | Customer Service | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Special Comments:
- Anticipated program length for the completion of the highest level exit point is 12 months (3 semesters).
- Program requirements must be completed with a programmatic grade point average of 2.0 or higher and grade of "C" or higher in all applicable coursework.
Career Information
Career Opportunities
To learn more about careers related to the Pharmacy Technician program, including salary range and job demand, click the link below.
► Click here for related Career Opportunity Information
Career Services Resources
Need help guiding your career planning efforts? Review the resources below from the NTCC Career Services Office: