Pharmacy Technician
What is the pharmacy technician major?
Are you looking for a prescription for success? Do you want to make a positive difference in your community? If so, the pharmacy technician major may be what you need. As consumer demand for pharmaceuticals increases, the need for pharmacy technicians will grow rapidly over the next several years, making this an exciting career. BTC’s program teaches you to assist pharmacists by helping collect, organize, and evaluate information for direct patient care, medication use review, and departmental management. You will learn to screen prescriptions and medication orders and verify measurements, preparation, and packaging. BTC will teach you the math, science, and pharmacological skills you need to step into this expanding field.
What career possibilities exist in the pharmacy technician field?
After graduating from the pharmacy technician major, you can embark on a career as a:
- Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Pharmacy Technician
Many types of companies hire our pharmacy technician majors, including:
- hospitals
- long-term care facilities
- retail chains
- independent community pharmacies
- compounding pharmacies
- mail order pharmacies
- home infusion companies
- nuclear pharmacies
- providers of automated pharmacy systems
- insurance companies
- contract providers of pharmaceuticals to the long term care industry
- specialty pharmacies
What do employers expect?
Most employers require the following:
- successful completion of a pharmacy technician program with an experiential component
- strong math and science aptitude
- excellent organizational skills
- attention to detail
- accuracy and thoroughness
- a commitment to the prevention of medication errors
- knowledge of the general chemical and physical properties of drugs in manufacturing and packaging operations
- knowledge of proper aseptic techniques and packaging in the preparation of medicines
- excellent judgment and adherence to prescribed policies and procedures of the workplace
- ability to multi-task and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
- strong communications skills
- a serious commitment to attendance requirements
While national certification (CPhT) is not yet required for practice in Pennsylvania, many individual employers are listing certification as a job requirement or preference.
How do you get the experience you need to get hired?
The experience needed to be hired into an entry-level pharmacy technician position can be obtained through completion of our pharmacy technician major and gaining hands-on experience during a field externship.
How is the major structured?
36 weeks
8:30 a.m. through 2:55 p.m. Monday through Friday
Externship times vary
What courses do I have to take to get my diploma?
- Communications
- Computers (MS Word, Pharm Rx, Pharm1)
- Keyboarding
- Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy Mathematics
- Pharmacy Practice
- Pharmacy Techniques & Lab
- Volunteer Program
- Externship
Do you want to know more?
You are invited to attend one of our information sessions held every Monday and Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. Bidwell Training Center’s Admissions office is ready to answer any questions. Call 1-800-516-1800.
