Health/ Health Careers

Pharmacy Technician CHHO-4000

Gain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment as a pharmacy technician in a retail or hospital pharmacy under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. Our noncredit Pharmacy Technician Certificate prepares students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam needed to work as a Pharmacy Tech in Iowa. You will learn a basic understanding of medications, prescriptions, and terminology, as well as record keeping, ethics, jurisprudence, and the role of the pharmacy technician. This course is hybrid, requiring you to be on campus one morning a week and the ability to complete remaining course work online on your own time within the weekly deadlines. In the spring, you will complete clinical hours providing hands-on opportunities for observation and supervised participation in hospital and retail pharmacies. One textbook package purchase is required at the start of the course and will be utilized in all classes throughout the certificate program. To successfully complete this course, students must pass all required components as this class qualifies as a pathway into a Kirkwood credit program.

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Upcoming Offerings:
No upcoming dates at this time.

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Tuition Assistance:
Yes. Full tuition assistance is available to support your career goals. Fill out our referral form at www.kirkwood.edu/cefunding.
*Some eligibility restrictions may apply.

Industry Credentials Earned:
This certificate program prepares students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam needed to work as a Pharmacy Tech in Iowa.

Careers:
Source: Lightcast 2024, Kirkwood Community College Region
Pharmacy Technician
Average Salary: $38,560
Projected jobs (2024-2029): 958

Entrance Requirements/Prerequisites:
Prospective students must be 18 years of age or older and have evidence of high school diploma or equivalent.

Delivery Method:
Hybrid

Length of Program and CEU Credits:
259 hours (32 weeks), 31.0 CEUs

Program Completion Requirements:
This course is hybrid, requiring learners to be on campus one morning a week and the ability to complete remaining course work online on their own time within the weekly deadlines. This program is interconnected with Kirkwood College credit courses. To successfully complete this program, students must pass all required components as these classes qualify as a pathway into a Kirkwood credit program. Students must complete all courses in this program to receive a certificate. 

Course Objectives:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the legal and ethical standards of the pharmacy technician profession.
• Explain the use and side effects of prescription and nonprescription medications used to treat common disease states.
• Identify and differentiate between key requirements or characteristics of prescriptions and non-prescription medication to increase safety and decrease error.
• Perform the steps necessary to interpret and process a prescription order.
• Discuss the concepts behind the business of pharmacy, including billing, reimbursement, inventory management, and information systems.
• Demonstrate proper preparation of both sterile and non-sterile compounding.
• Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the program, students will have an understanding of medications, prescriptions and terminology, compounding, calculations, record keeping, ethics, jurisprudence, and the role of the pharmacy technician. Students will also be prepared to take the nationally-recognized Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. 

Other Items to Know About this Course:
One textbook package purchase is required at the start of the course and will be utilized in all classes throughout the certificate program. Costs associated with the program that are not included in the tuition: textbook, background check fee ($45), immunization/health information tracking fee ($38), clinical polo, $22 fee paid to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, update to date health physical current through the end of the clinical rotations, and any additional fees that may be associated with the health requirements. Textbook package required: Cirrus 2.0 Pharm Pak; ISBN-13: 9798385133734, available at Kirkwood Bookstores. 

Pathway to Credit Program:
Pharmacy Technician (earns 13.5 credit hours of 31.5 credit program requirements)

Related Information: 
Learn more about the Pharmacy Technician credit program at www.kirkwood.edu/pharmacytechnician.