Pharmacy Technician Training Program - Enter the World of Pharmacy
Pharmacy technicians are vital members of healthcare teams, working under pharmacist supervision to ...
Pharmacy technicians are vital members of healthcare teams, working under pharmacist supervision to ...
Pharmacy technicians are vital members of healthcare teams, working under pharmacist supervision to prepare and dispense medications, counsel patients, manage inventory, and process insurance claims. Healthcare Training Academy's Pharmacy Technician program provides comprehensive training in medication safety, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy law, and pharmacy operations, preparing students for national certification and employment in retail pharmacies, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
Pharmacy technicians work in diverse healthcare settings throughout West Virginia and across the country. Retail pharmacies employ the largest number of pharmacy technicians, but opportunities also exist in hospital pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, long-term care facilities, specialty pharmacies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The demand for qualified pharmacy technicians continues to grow as the population ages and requires more prescription medications. Advances in pharmacy automation and expanded pharmacy services actually increase rather than decrease the need for skilled technicians who can manage technology, counsel patients, and handle complex insurance issues.
Pharmacy technician careers offer excellent work-life balance, with many positions offering predictable schedules and no on-call requirements. The role provides patient interaction and the satisfaction of helping people manage their medications while also offering opportunities for those who prefer behind-the-scenes pharmaceutical work in compounding, inventory management, or insurance processing.
Our Pharmacy Technician program covers all knowledge and skills required for national certification and competent pharmacy practice. The curriculum integrates classroom learning with hands-on medical training in our pharmacy lab.
Pharmacy operations training covers prescription intake and processing, medication dispensing procedures, prescription label preparation, inventory management, and customer service. Students learn the workflow patterns used in retail and hospital pharmacies, developing efficiency while maintaining accuracy in this detail-oriented field.
Medication safety is emphasized throughout the program. Students learn the rights of medication administration, strategies for preventing errors, verification procedures, look-alike sound-alike medication awareness, and adverse drug event reporting. Patient safety is the foundation of all pharmacy practice, and technicians play a critical role in maintaining medication safety.
Pharmaceutical calculations are essential for accurate medication preparation. Training covers ratio and proportion, dosage calculations, percentage solutions, dilutions, alligations, and pediatric dosing. Students practice these calculations until they achieve mastery, as calculation errors can have serious patient consequences.
Medical terminology and anatomy provide the foundation for understanding medications and patient conditions. Students learn terminology related to all body systems, disease processes, and medical procedures. This knowledge enables effective communication with pharmacists, other healthcare providers, and patients.
Pharmacology covers drug classifications, mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, side effects, and drug interactions for the most commonly prescribed medications. While pharmacy technicians do not counsel patients on clinical matters, understanding pharmacology enables them to recognize potential problems and alert pharmacists appropriately.
Pharmacy law and ethics training covers federal and state regulations governing pharmacy practice, controlled substances, prescription requirements, patient privacy (HIPAA), and professional ethics. Pharmacy technicians must understand legal requirements to practice safely and ethically.
Insurance and billing procedures receive thorough attention as third-party prescription processing has become increasingly complex. Students learn insurance terminology, plan types, prior authorization procedures, rejected claim troubleshooting, and billing for durable medical equipment. These administrative skills are highly valued by pharmacy employers.
Sterile compounding and aseptic technique are covered for students interested in hospital pharmacy careers. Training includes USP standards, clean room procedures, preparation of IV medications, and quality assurance. These specialized clinical skills command premium wages in hospital settings.
Pharmacy software proficiency is developed throughout the program. Students work with systems similar to those used in retail and hospital pharmacies, gaining confidence with medication databases, prescription processing screens, insurance adjudication, and inventory management modules.
Our pharmacy lab simulates an actual pharmacy environment with prescription processing stations, medication inventory, pharmacy software, and compounding equipment. Students practice prescription filling, counting and pouring techniques, compounding procedures, and customer interactions repeatedly until they achieve proficiency.
The hands-on medical training allows students to make mistakes and learn from them in a safe environment before working with actual prescriptions. This practice builds the accuracy, attention to detail, and efficiency essential for pharmacy technician success. Students appreciate the opportunity to develop confidence through repetition before beginning externships.
The Pharmacy Technician program includes an externship component where students work in actual pharmacies under pharmacist supervision. Externship sites include retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and long-term care pharmacy facilities throughout North Central West Virginia.
During externships, students participate in all aspects of pharmacy operations, applying their medication safety knowledge and clinical skills in real-world settings. They experience the pace and demands of actual pharmacy practice while continuing to refine their techniques under experienced pharmacist mentorship.
Externships provide invaluable networking opportunities and often lead to job offers. Many employers prefer to hire technicians they have trained and observed during externships. Even students who ultimately work elsewhere benefit from the professional references and experience gained.
Upon completing the program, students are prepared to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
West Virginia requires pharmacy technicians to register with the Board of Pharmacy. Our program meets West Virginia requirements for pharmacy technician registration. National certification significantly enhances employability and is required or strongly preferred by most employers. Certified pharmacy technicians typically earn higher wages than non-certified technicians.
Our comprehensive medical training prepares students thoroughly for certification examinations. Our curriculum covers all domains tested on national exams, and students practice with exam-format questions throughout the program.
The pharmacy technician credential opens doors to various career paths. Experienced technicians can specialize in compounding, chemotherapy preparation, medication therapy management, inventory management, or pharmacy informatics. Some technicians advance to lead technician or pharmacy supervisor roles. Others use their pharmacy experience as a foundation for pursuing pharmacist degrees or transitioning to pharmaceutical sales or clinical research careers.
Healthcare Training Academy's Pharmacy Technician program provides the comprehensive training, medication safety focus, and real-world experience needed for a successful pharmacy career. Small classes ensure personalized instruction. Flexible day and evening schedules accommodate working students. Job placement assistance helps every graduate find employment.
Financial aid is available for qualifying students, and new classes begin every six weeks. Start your pharmacy career today. Contact Healthcare Training Academy to learn more about the Pharmacy Technician program.
Contact Healthcare Training Academy today to learn more!
Apply Now