Pharmacy Technician

Calhoun Community College is currently offering 2 options for the Healthcare Programs

This comprehensive 50-hour program will prepare students to work as a pharmacy technician in a retail or other pharmacy setting and to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam.  Course content includes pharmacy medical terminology, the history of pharmacy, the pharmacy practice in multiple environments, pharmacy calculations and measurements, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining drugs by generic and brand names.  Through classroom lectures and hands-on labs, students will review dosage calculations, drug classifications, the “top 200 drugs”, I.V. flow rates, sterile compounding, dose conversions, aseptic technique, the handling of sterile products, total parental nutrition (TPN), dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control, and billing and reimbursement.  In addition to classroom lectures and labs, this program includes a clinical externship through a local pharmacy.

Please review the Alabama Board of Pharmacy’s eligibility requirements for employment as a Pharmacy Technician.

Clinical Externship: Upon successful completion of this Pharmacy Technician program, students are eligible to participate in an 80-hour clinical externship with a local Retail Pharmacy.  Students may be asked to submit to a thorough background check, drug screening, and meet other requirements at their expense.

Option #1 – Self-directed online classes

Students may start the self-directed online class at any time and have full access to the website. E Textbooks are included in the fee. Students have up to 6 months to complete the program. No on-campus attendance is required for this program.

Cost is $1,299 (includes e-textbooks)

There are no refunds offered for the Self-directed, On Line Program.

Online Registration

Option #2 – Traditional, In-person Class on Campus

The program will be held on Calhoun Community College’s campus with live instruction. Class size is limited to 20 participants.

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Option #2 Class Details

  • Duration: 50 hours
  • Dates: March 5, 2024 – May 7, 2024
  • Days:  Tuesday and Thursday nights
  • Times:  6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Cost:  $999 (textbooks and externship included)
  • Location: Center for Business and Industry Training (CBIT), Room 105, Decatur Campus
  • The program fee does not include the cost of the PTCB exam.
  • The PTCB National Certification Exam is proctored at Pearson Vue sites.
  • *Eligible for WIOA Funding
  • Calhoun – Pharmacy Technician Schedule

For information about this program, please call Diane Peck at 256-306-2515.

Refunds (Instructor-led Programs only)

All refund requests must be received in writing before January 31, 2024. Email diane.peck@calhoun.edu with your request, and then call 256-306-2515 to confirm receipt of the request.  Calhoun Community College is not responsible for emails that are not delivered/received.

Related Careers

Check out related careers and career data associated with this program:

Pharmacy Technician Careers