Pharmacy Technician, D.A.S. - PHM1
Graduates of the Pharmacy Technician diploma are healthcare professionals who assist the pharmacist in a community setting to provide quality healthcare related to medication administration. In addition to the skills acquired to become a pharmacy technician, students will learn to read medication orders, mix parenteral medications, assemble unit-doses of medications and prepare 24-hour patient medication carts. Students will also learn proper labeling for oral and parenteral medications. In order to become a South Carolina state certified pharmacy technician, the student must earn the Pharmacy Technician diploma, work 1,000 hours as a registered pharmacy technician, and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Students are required to maintain a current American Heart Association “Basic Life Support” certification throughout the major studies courses. Prior to beginning the second semester (clinical phase) of the pharmacy technician program, the student must have completed MAT 155- Contemporary Mathematics.
Note: Drug Testing and Background Check will be completed during the first semester.
Requirements
| Courses | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Courses | ||
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MAT 155 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| PSY 103 | Human Relations | 3 |
| or PSY 201 | General Psychology | |
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Required Core Subject Areas | ||
| PHM 101 | Introduction to Pharmacy | 3 |
| PHM 103 | Pharmacy Law and Ethics | 2 |
| PHM 110 | Pharmacy Practice | 4 |
| PHM 113 | Pharmacy Technician Math | 3 |
| PHM 114 | Therapeutic Agents I | 3 |
| PHM 118 | Community Pharmacy Seminar | 1 |
| PHM 124 | Therapeutic Agents II | 3 |
| PHM 152 | Pharmacy Technician Practicum I | 2 |
| PHM 164 | Pharmacy Technician Practicum II | 4 |
| PHM 173 | Pharmacy Technician Practicum III | 3 |
| Subtotal | 28 | |
| Other Courses Required for Graduations | ||
| AHS 102 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| AHS 116 | Patient Care Relations | 3 |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Graduation Plan
Fall Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MAT 155 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| PHM 101 | Introduction to Pharmacy | 3 |
| PHM 110 | Pharmacy Practice | 4 |
| PHM 113 | Pharmacy Technician Math | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AHS 102 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PHM 103 | Pharmacy Law and Ethics | 2 |
| PHM 114 | Therapeutic Agents I | 3 |
| PHM 152 | Pharmacy Technician Practicum I | 2 |
| PHM 164 | Pharmacy Technician Practicum II | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| AHS 116 | Patient Care Relations | 3 |
| PSY 103 or PSY 201 |
Human Relations or General Psychology |
3 |
| PHM 118 | Community Pharmacy Seminar | 1 |
| PHM 124 | Therapeutic Agents II | 3 |
| PHM 173 | Pharmacy Technician Practicum III | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Application and Advising
If you are ready to start your education, there are a few simple steps involved in enrolling at Piedmont Technical College.
Advising Information
The following information provides a guide for advisors who are helping students enroll in this program.
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheets are designed for students and advisors to review program-specific requirements and program application procedures. Please make an appointment with your advisor to discuss your academic goals and progress, and to develop your individualized degree plan.
Pharmacy Technician Handbook
Health Care Division Handbook
This handbook is designed to be utilized in conjunction with the PTC Academic Catalog, PTC Student Calendar and Handbook and PTC Health Care webpages. Please refer to them for additional information.
Accreditation Information
The Pharmacy Technician program conducted by Piedmont Technical College is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
4500 East West Hwy
Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-3000
https://www.ashp.org
Upon graduation, pharmacy technicians registered with the SC Board of Pharmacy must complete 10 hours of continuing education each year to maintain active registration status. SC also requires one hour to be in pharmacy law. Pharmacy technicians certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years. PTCB requires that continuing education include one hour of pharmacy law and one hour of medication safety.
ASHP Pharmacy Technician Program Standards
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Purpose Statement
The mission of the Pharmacy Technician program is to provide an economically flexible didactic and clinical competency based curriculum which provides students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to master skills required to enter the entry-level job market in community and hospital pharmacy settings. This diploma program also strives to assist students in achieving personal and professional goals as well as instill life-long learning values.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the pharmacy department, technician duties and responsibilities.
- Demonstrate knowledge of pharmacy/medical terms, abbreviations, and symbols used in prescribing and dispensing medications.
- Demonstrate procedures for manufacturing, packaging, and labeling of drug products.
- Perform calculations for dosages and day supply for medications.
- Demonstrate knowledge of dosage, route of administration, and dosage forms.
- Perform dispensing of non-controlled and controlled substances as per federal and state guidelines.
- Demonstrate institutional and ambulatory drug preparation and distribution.
- Perform tasks in sequential order associated with community and hospital pharmacy.