Students who enroll in a diploma or associate degree program in pharmacy technology must take pharmacology. Other core courses are mathematics, chemistry, nutrition and anatomy. Students study human physiology to understand the body’s organ systems and how medications affect them. Students also learn pharmaceutical calculations, medical ethics, pharmacy law and record keeping. Since pharmacy technicians assist the licensed pharmacist with filling and dispensing prescriptions, they must be able to measure dosages. In order to apply for a diploma or associate degree program in pharmacy technology, you must obtain a high school diploma or an equivalency degree, such as a G.E.D.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) offers program accreditation, which focuses only on the pharmacy technician training program. An online directory of accredited Pharmacy Technician training programs is published and maintained on the Accreditation Services Division of the ASHP website. The website also contains the latest news about the health system pharmacy and health issues affecting our society, drug information, career information, job listings and upcoming conferences.
Some pharmacies offer on-the-job training to pharmacy technicians. The training may consist of verifying measurements, preparation, and the packaging of medications, receiving and screening prescription orders for completeness, and assisting the pharmacist in collecting and evaluating information for direct patient care, and the administration of patient immunizations. For instance, Walgreen's Pharmacy Technician Program is a paid training program that provides national certification and career advancement opportunities. The program is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.
The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) offers an online program, which consists of nine courses. The entire program is from 6 to 12 months, depending upon the student's schedule, time availability and whether the student is attending on a full-time or part-time basis. Each course is comprised of multiple lessons, which include lesson objectives, reading assignments and lesson review questions. Students will be required to complete 120 hours of practical experience through a non-paid externship program.