Pharmacy Technician Program

The ACC Pharmacy Technician program is designed to train you to work with licensed pharmacists, doing things like labeling and dispensing medication, updating patient information and rotating inventory. Upon successful completion of this program and the receipt of your diploma, you will:

• Understand the responsibilities and duties of the pharmacy technician, including ethical standards within the practice of pharmacy
• Know the trade and generic names of selected drugs, drug classifications, indications, routes of administration, side effects, dosages, and storage requirements
• Understand pharmacy law, basic chemistry, pharmacology, dosage calculations, inpatient pharmacy procedures, and retail pharmacy procedures
• Understand pharmaceutical and medical terminology, including abbreviations and symbols used in prescribing, dispensing and charting
• Perform pharmaceutical preparation skills, including filling prescriptions and preparing sterile products;
• And have an understanding of basic anatomy and related pathological conditions

ACC's dynamic curriculum also prepares you for the professional world by providing training in basic computer operations, such as data input procedures used in maintaining patients' medication records

The focus is on your success!

The goal of our program is to help you graduate with the confidence and qualifications to begin your career as a pharmacy technician.

Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of different settings, receiving prescription requests, counting tablets and delivering medications for distribution to patients. With your ACC Pharmacy Technician diploma, you can expect to qualify for entry-level positions in:

• Retail Pharmacies
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Home Health Pharmacies
• Clinics
• Prescription Call Centers

A few interesting statistics* about pharmacy technician careers: 

• Employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

• As a result of advances in pharmaceutical research, more prescription medications are being used to fight diseases.

• The number of older people is growing, and older people use more prescription drugs than younger people.

• Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications. They may make rounds in the hospital, giving medications to patients.

A few places where graduates from various ACC programs have been hired:

Many area employers are very familiar with the quality of ACC programs and our school's track record for preparing confident, qualified professionals for rewarding careers. Our graduates have been hired by:

*Source: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm

This curriculum is divided into learning units called modules. Standalone core modules for the ACC Pharmacy Technician program include:

• Pharmacy Law – In this module, you will be introduced to the legal duties and responsibilities of both the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician. You will gain familiarity with regulatory agencies and their functions, including: DEA, NAPB, State Boards, FDA, JACHO, ASHP and CSHP.
• Drug Fundamentals – Coursework in this module is designed to provide you with an understanding of trade and generic names, pharmaceutical compounding, drug classifications, indications, dosages, routes of administration, and side effects. You will also receive a general overview of basic chemistry skills and learn how to use the Periodic Table of the Elements.
• Pharmacology – This module provides instruction in the various effects of drugs and the processes involved in pharmacokinetics. Common pathological conditions and diseases that affect each of the systems are discussed, and hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings will be practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.
• Drug Distribution – Coursework in this module you will be introduced to the language of pharmacy abbreviations. As you become adept at deciphering medication orders through daily lab exercises, you will learn the mathematical conversions and dosage calculations necessary to correctly process drug orders in the hospital or inpatient pharmacy setting.
• IV Preparation – This course provides you with an understanding of the procedures, skills, and techniques used in the preparation of sterile products for both hospital and home health care pharmacies. You will learn the calculations involved in the preparation of intravenous solutions and apply hands-on procedures in the preparation of sterile products using aseptic technique.
• Retail Pharmacy – This module is designed to provide you with training in such procedures as filling prescriptions accurately, drug procurement, and third-party billing. Hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings are practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.
• Pharmacy Technician Externship – Under the direct supervision of qualified personnel, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills presented and practiced throughout the program.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

Once you have completed your ACC training and earned your diploma, you'll be ready to pursue exciting career opportunities as an entry-level pharmacy technician. On the job, you'll play a vital role in helping licensed pharmacists dispense prescription medications in a retail pharmacy, hospital, clinic, and other similar environments.

As a pharmacy technician, your day-to-day responsibilities may include:

• Taking necessary information from customers and/or health professionals in order to fill their prescriptions
• Counting tablets and measuring amounts of other medication for prescriptions
• Compounding or mixing medications, such as ointments
• Packaging and labeling prescriptions
• Accepting payment for prescriptions and processing insurance claims.
• Doing routine pharmacy tasks, such as answering phone calls from customers.

You'll be on your way!

As you begin your career as a pharmacy technician, the ongoing development of your skills can create increased opportunities for advancement. Even after you are employed, ACC's Career Services team will remain committed to providing you with the resources, support, and personalized assistance you need to keep your health care career on the fast track.