Pharmacy Technician

This course has three instructional delivery methods. All have 96 hours of instruction.*

  1. The face-to-face class will have 96 hours, all in a traditional classroom setting.
  2. The hybrid version of this course is a combination of 36 hours face to face and 60 hours of online instruction, using the learning management system (LMS) Canvas for content delivery.
  3. The online class is 100% online using the learning management system (LMS) Canvas for content delivery.
*Not every delivery method is offered every term. Students registered for the hybrid and online classes will receive an email with login instructions one day before the first day of class.    

 

About pharmacy technicians

Pharmacy technicians are supervised by licensed pharmacists and perform duties that do not require the pharmacist’s expertise, such as labeling prescription bottles and helping patients complete medical insurance forms. Technicians have several duties that may include assisting with prescriptions by counting pills, measuring medications, and labeling products; verifying prescriptions from doctors; and maintaining patient records and insurance information.

Technicians do not consult with patients who have questions about their medications. Instead, they refer the clients to the pharmacists. Most pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, such as the ones in your local grocery stores. Other pharmacy technicians fill hospital positions, work in wholesale industries, or find employment with government organizations.

Pharmacy Technician training

This 96-hour training includes:

  • Communication within the pharmacy
  • History of drugs and pharmacy today
  • Community pharmacy vs. institutional pharmacy
  • Pharmaceutical terminology
  • Receiving the medication order (prescription)
  • Federal laws, OSHA, drug recalls, drug information sources
  • Controlled substances, drug classification
  • Repacking medications
  • Pharmaceutical calculations
    And much more.

Successful participants can opt to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (https://www.ptcb.org/).

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost is:

Course registration: $188

Book: about $133

Total: about $321  

Payment for class is due at the time of registration.

Course Code: PHM-3250-901 – 100% Asynchronous Online Course
First Class Date: 10/28/2024
Last Class Date: 12/10/2024
Meeting Days: Monday-Thursday
Hours: Asynchronous Online 
No Class Dates: 11/27, 11/28

OR

Course Code: PHM-3250-702 – 100%  Face-to-Face On-Campus Course
First Class Date: 10/24/2024
Last Class Date: 3/11/2025
Meeting Days: Tuesday, Thursday
Hours: 6-9 p.m.
Campus: Greensboro Campus (3505 E. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro, NC  27405)
Building: CEC – Continuing Education Center Bldg.
Room: 206
No Class Dates: 10/31, 11/28, 12/17, 12/19, 12/24, 12/26, 12/31, 1/2

Students must have:
  • Good computer skills
  • An email account and access to a computer with internet
  • Strong math skills

Yes. To be successful in this Health Sciences/Workforce Continuing Education program, students need to have good computer skills. If you are a beginner on the computer, you should take a course FIRST, to strengthen your computer skills before registering for a Health Sciences/WCE course. (Contact Leo Bridges  @ 336-334-4822, ext. 50407 with questions).

Individuals should also know that as a student, you will need to have access to a computer outside of class to complete the required coursework. Computers used outside of class must be connected to the internet and also have software compatible with what is used in class (e.g. Microsoft® Word, Excel, and, PowerPoint 2010, etc.). If you do not have a home computer, you should plan to visit a GTCC “Open Lab” to complete the required coursework.

The checklist below provides information about the minimum computer skills needed to register for this course. Potential students should thoroughly evaluate their computer skills using this checklist.

Good Computer Skills Self-Assessment

Checklist:

  1. You should be able to turn a computer on and off
    1. Do you know the difference between an operating system and an application software (i.e. Windows® 7 versus Microsoft® Office 2007)?

  2. Do you know how to use the computer desktop?
    1. Do you know how to make a folder on the desktop?
    2. Do you know how to save information on the desktop?
    3. Do you know how to retrieve information from the desktop?

  3. Do you know what a flash drive is?
    1. Do you know how to make a folder on a flash drive?
    2. Do you know how to save information on a flash drive?
    3. Do you know how to retrieve information from a flash drive?

  4. Do you know how to use the internet?
    1. Can you bookmark a website?
    2. Can you “Google Search”/research information on the internet?

  5.  Do you have a personal email account?
    1. Can you access your personal email from a computer other than your home computer?
    2. Can you send internet links via email?
    3. Can you send an attachment in an email?

  6. Do you know how to create, save, and use a basic Microsoft® Word document
    1. Word processing software?
    2. Can you type at least 25-30 words per minute?

  7. Are you familiar with Microsoft® Excel Spreadsheet software?

  8. Are you familiar with Microsoft® PowerPoint presentation software?

You may be eligible for scholarship money. Click on the link below to learn if you might meet the applicant requirements. Scholarships have time-sensitive application deadlines.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Additionally, the NCWorks Career Center may be able to assist through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program. For more information call NCWorks Greensboro at 336-297-9444 or NCWorks High Point at 336-882-4141.

You may register online: 

https://selfservice.gtcc.edu/Student/InstantEnrollment/Search?keyword=PHM-3250

Students MUST buy books before the first day of class.

The required book is: ISBN 9781640437524. "The Pharmacy Technician, Eighth Ed." From Morton Publishing Company. About $133 at GTCC Bookstore on the Jamestown OR Greensboro Campus only.

Students who successfully complete the Pharmacy Technician class will receive an Award of Completion.  

Requirements for successful completion are:

  • Attendance: Must be in class 90% of class hours.
  • Coursework: Must achieve 80% on coursework.

Students registered in a hybrid or online course MUST attend the first day of class.

If you enter after the second day of class, you will not receive credit for taking the class.  Additionally, time absent will be counted against you. Students can only miss 1 day in this course.

The college will make a 100% refund of registration fees if you officially withdraw from class before the first meeting. Also if the class is canceled or full, GTCC will make a full refund. 
The college will refund 75% of the registration fee (of tuition only) if you officially withdraw from the class on the first day of class or before the class reaches the census date. The census date varies from class to class. Non-attendance is not a basis for a refund.