Pharmacy Technology Program Student Handbook

Transcription

1 Pharmacy Technology Program Student Handbook Revised: October 1, 2013

2 Program Overview The Las Positas College Pharmacy Technician training program provides students with comprehensive instruction to become a licensed Pharmacy Technician in California. Pharmacy Technicians have a rewarding career working in the medical community at retail pharmacies and in mail-order pharmacies. This part-time program provides the foundation training for pharmacy technicians. Students will learn about the pharmacy setting, major drug classifications, pharmaceutics, dosage calculations, pharmacy inventory and complete an externship in a pharmacy setting. This accelerated training program is offered through Las Positas College s Health Sciences Department. Labor Market Information Pharmacy technicians are in high demand in health care and in the pharmaceutical industry. According to the US Department of Labor, job opportunities are expected to be good for fulltime and part-time work, especially for those with formal training and certification. According to the bureau of labor statistics, employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 31 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The median hourly earnings of wage-and-salary pharmacy technicians in were $ With a larger and older population, advances in science, and increases in medication availability and usage, the demand for pharmacy technicians in all practice settings will increase and their role will be expanded. As health care becomes more technically complex, the need for educated, skilled and competent support personnel will become more important. Federal and state laws and regulations affect the maximum use of uncertified technicians and the requirements for certification. More states and employers are requiring certification as reliance on pharmacy technicians grows in order to increase the quality of the services provided and to decrease medication errors. Bureau of Labor Statistics Pharmacy Technicians Requirements of the Program The Las Positas College Pharmacy Technician program requires students to complete 240 hours of classroom instruction, practicum, laboratory projects, and a minimum of 360 hours experiential learning at a minimum of two pharmacy settings.

3 Program Fees The 2014 program fees are $3200 to be paid to Las Positas College prior to December 31, The fees include all instruction, textbooks, lab facilities, liability insurance, externship placement, supplies and materials. Students may be responsible for the additional fees: Criminal Background Check & Drug Screening by Verified Credentials $97 Lab coat for externship $25 (if required) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board National Exam $150 (not required) Fingerprints for National Exam $25 (if taking exam) Physical Exam $150 (cost may vary, if required by externship) Refund Policy Students may withdraw from the program prior to the 4th class session and receive a refund of their enrollment fee excluding $1000 for the Textbooks, Supplies, Materials and an Administrative Fee. After the 4th class, there will be no refunds. Background Check and Screening Protocol Students must pass a background check prior to starting the Las Positas College Pharmacy Technician training program. Additionally, students must be prepared to have a current background check performed upon assignment at an externship site. Drug Testing Students must pass a drug test prior to starting the Las Positas College Pharmacy Technician Training program. Additionally, students must be prepared to take additional drug testing upon an externship/employer site demand. Experiential Training Requirements Each student will be required to complete a minimum of 360 hours in an externship setting at a minimum of two (2) locations. Las Positas College has current affiliations for externship placement at the following locations: Safeway, Walgreens, Clayworth Pharmacy, Premier Pharmacy, Target, Rite Aid, CVS, Sutter Tracy Hospital, and ValleyCare Health System. Students will be required to fully complete the program Externship Handbook. The Externship handbook may be viewed at: ogramexternshiphandbook.pdf

4 Schedule of Progress Reviews As per the syllabus, students will be subject to progress reviews. The program director will schedule progress reviews with students on a one-on-one basis. Guidelines for PhT Licensing and Certifications Las Positas College follows the guidelines of the State Board of Pharmacy: Effective January 1, 2004, there are only four ways to qualify for pharmacy technician registration (California Business and Professions Code section 4202). California law now requires that an applicant for a pharmacy technician permit must meet one of the following criteria: 1. Have obtained an associate of arts degree in pharmacy technology. 2. Have completed a course of training specified by the board (typically provided by employers under requirements of California Code of Regulations Section (provided below)). 3. Have graduated from a school of pharmacy approved by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education or recognized by the board. 4. Be certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. California Code of Regulations section describes the training courses acceptable to the board (item 2 above). This training is described as: a) Any pharmacy technician training program accredited by the American Society of Health--System Pharmacists, b) Any pharmacy technician training program provided by a branch of the federal armed services for which the applicant possesses a certificate of completion, OR c) Any other course that provides a training period of at least 240 hours of theoretical and practical instruction, provided that at least 120 of these hours are in theoretical instruction in a curriculum that provides: o Knowledge and understanding of different pharmacy practice settings. o Knowledge and understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a pharmacy technician in relationship to other pharmacy personnel and knowledge of standards and ethics, laws and regulations governing the practice of pharmacy.

5 o Knowledge and ability to identify and employ pharmaceutical and medical terms, abbreviations and symbols commonly used in prescribing, dispensing and record keeping of medications. o Knowledge of and the ability to carry out calculations required for common dosage determination, employing both the metric and apothecary systems. o Knowledge and understanding of the identification of drugs, drug dosages, routes of administration, dosage forms and storage requirements. o Knowledge of and ability to perform the manipulative and record-keeping functions involved in and related to dispensing prescriptions. o Knowledge of and ability to perform procedures and techniques relating to manufacturing, packaging, and labeling of drug products.