Pharmacy Technology

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Pharmacy Technology prepares students for entry-level pharmacy practice in retail, hospital, and institutional settings. Students will process and prepare medications, dispense medications, and learn inventory and quality control practices. The program includes instruction in medical and pharmaceutical terminology, legal and regulatory standard, customer service, prescription analysis and interpretation, mathematical calculations for dosing and solution preparation, safety procedures, and billing practices. The curriculum for this program includes a 200-hour externship and meets the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) requirement for students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).

Details

Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Pharmacy Technology (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5248
Total credits required
16
Catalog Year
2023-2024
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Admissions criteria

1. Formal application and admission to the program.
2. Background Check Requirements: Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Background Check standards. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD background check policy.
3. Clinical Health and Safety Requirements must be met. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD clinical health and safety policy.
4. Inability to comply with Background Check Requirements and/or Clinical Health and Safety Requirements at the start of classes may result in cancellation of enrollment.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Describe the role of the pharmacy technician in retail, hospital, and institutional settings.
  2. Apply all legal, regulatory, professional, and ethical standards applicable to the role of pharmacy technicians.
  3. Employ proper customer service procedures related to professional communication, appearance, and knowledge of allowed duties when working under a licensed pharmacist in a variety of settings.
  4. Demonstrate familiarity with brand and generic drug names, appearance, manufacturer, dosage forms(s), and route of administration for at least the top 200 drugs.
  5. Analyze a prescription for accuracy.
  6. Perform mathematical calculations for dosage determinations and solution preparations.
  7. Demonstrate safe medication preparation.
  8. Practice safe and appropriate dispensing principles.
  9. Prepare for the national pharmacy technician certification and licensure as required by State of Arizona Regulations.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Pharmacy Technicians

$36,462

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
PHT150 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice 3
PHT153 Basic Pharmacy Practice 5

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
PHT155 Advanced Pharmacy Practice 5
PHT250 Pharmacy Technician Certification 1
PHT253 Pharmacy Technician Externship 2
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=185106).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.