Pharmacy Technology

Pharmacy Technology

This is a career and technical education certificate program. Enrolled students learn the basic skills and knowledge required to begin working as a pharmacy technician. Upon successful completion of all didactic and clinical competency requirements, eligible students apply for the certification exam with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the Pharmacy Technology Program. Consideration for admission is by application. Students must meet minimum criteria in order to apply. The criteria and process is described below.

Career and Technical Education Option

Richland offers a Basic Certificate for students interested in Pharmacy Technology. In two consecutive semesters, students will complete coursework in pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, pharmacy technician techniques, and laboratory work.

Basic Certificate in Pharmacy Technology
Request an admission worksheet for the Pharmacy Technology Program - used with an advisor to determine if prerequisites to apply are met

For questions regarding the Pharmacy Technology program, please contact Jessica Pickel in the Health Professions office at (217) 875-7211, ext. 753.

Program Information

Overview

Career in Pharmacy Technology

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2011), employment of pharmacy technologists is expected to increase by 25 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In Decatur, the average hourly rate for a pharmacy technologiest is $13.84.

Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists by performing duties that do not require the professional skills and judgment of a licensed pharmacist. Program graduates will be able to: collect, organize, and evaluate information to assist the pharmacist, conduct and maintain drug inventory, receive and prepare prescription to be checked by pharmacist, provide customer service, collect payment and/or initiate billing for pharmacy services and goods, maintain confidentiality of patient information, and apply knowledge of working in a sterile/laboratory environment.

Employment opportunities include working in hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, community/home care pharmacy, education, research, and pharmaceutical industry.

Program Costs

The Pharmacy Technology Program certificate consists of 17 credit hours. For the 2011-2012 academic year, tuition and college fees for 17 credits hours was approximately $1,873. This estimate includes additional lab, licensing, and exam fees associated with the program.

Admission Information

Admission

Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the Pharmacy Technology Program. Consideration for admission is by application. Students must meet the minimum criteria in order to apply.

Students must use the online pre-advisement plan available on myRichland to apply to the program. The Health Professions office accepts application to the Pharmacy Technology Program January 4 through April 1.

The Program admits the first 12 eligible students on a first come, first serve basis. Students not among the first 12 to apply are placed on a waitlist for this application year only. Should an admitted student withdraw from the program before the fall semester begins, waitlisted students are contacted via phone in the order they applied; students may be contacted before and up to the first day of the fall semester. Students are contacted using the phone number listed on myRichland.

The waitlist does not roll over to the next admission cycle. Prospective students will need to submit a new application. Out-of-district students will be considered for the program when space is available.

Eligibility to Apply

Students must meet certain criteria before applying to the Pharmacy Technology Program. Below is a listing of the prerequisite criteria. Students must:

Be at least 16 years of age or older
Meet eligibility requirements for admission to the college
Be eligible for MATH 091, as determined by:
- Accuplacer mathematics placement test scores OR
- Completion of required developmental coursework with a “C” or better
- Qualifying ACT scores from the previous three years
Be eligible for ENGL 101, as determined by:
- Accuplacer English and reading placement test scores OR
- Qualifying ACT scores from the previous three years OR
- Completion of required developmental coursework with a “C” or better

Requirement Information

Ethical Requirements

Students are required to apply for licensure with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) prior to beginning the program’s clinical component. Students should review the applicable licensure procedures and state laws of the profession to ensure that they are eligible to receive a license while in program at Richland Community College. The pharmacy licensure guidelines for the state of Illinois are available on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website.

Health and Safety Requirements

Any of the clinical sites that conduct random alcohol/drug tests may require Richland Community College students to submit to random alcohol/drug tests. Students, who refuse to comply, or produce a positive alcohol/drug test result, will be dismissed from the program.

Program Requirements

The program sequence begins in the fall semester and is conducted over two semesters. In order to progress in the Program, students must successfully complete all performance skills in both the laboratory and clinical settings. To graduate, students must have a “C” or better in all program coursework and maintain a GPA of 2.0.

Certification Requirements

As of January 1, 2010, all licensed pharmacy technicians in the State of Illinois are required to obtain certification within 2 years after initial registration with the IDFPR by successfully passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Examination or another Board-approved pharmacy technician exam.

As part of PHRMT 157 Pharmacy Technician Certifcation Review, studentswill apply for the Pharmacy Technician Certifying Exam with the Pharmacy Technician Certifying Board. Students must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible for the exam; please refer to the PTCB Eligibility Policy. Upon successful completion of the exam, individuals are allowed to use the designation CPhT after their names.

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Career and Technical Education Option

Program Information

Overview

Admission Information

Requirement Information

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