A pharmacy technician program will prepare you for a position in one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare. You’ll work closely with a licensed pharmacist and other members of the pharmacy team to receive prescriptions and dispense medications and other health care products to patients. Pharmacy technicians must obtain a license from the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy before they can practice in a retail, institutional, or other pharmacy. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent, be employed by a state registered pharmacy, and complete an approved pharmacy technician program or have national PTCB certification to be eligible for registration. Registration must be completed within the first 30 days of employment.
A technician works in hospitals, chain grocery stores, community pharmacies and other medical settings to assess prescription requests for accuracy, prepare medications for dispensing, perform dosage calculations, retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure and mix medications, assist with administrative duties, and maintain accurate patient records. Employment for pharmacy technicians is expected to increase 12 percent through 2026 according to projections from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
The pharmacy technician program at Rowan-Cabarrus includes theory and practical instruction that will enable the graduates to work competently alongside a licensed pharmacist in a retail or hospital pharmacy. The training will also include intense preparation for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam given by the PTCB. Experienced instructors will employ lectures, interactive discussions, and multimedia presentations in the classroom to deliver the course content. Assignments, research projects, and continuous evaluations will test students’ understanding of the material. Course topics include pharmacy terminology, pharmacology, receiving and preparing prescriptions for dispensing, packaging and labeling, inventory management, dosage calculations, customer service, maintaining a clean and safe environment, sterile compounding, aseptic techniques, and billing and insurance. Classes meet from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Submit an application to the program
- Obtain a student ID before the first day of class
- Have a Gold Level Career Readiness Certificate – recommended
Tuition for the program is $180. Students will need to purchase the course textbook.
- Website: https://www.rccc.edu/healthoccupations/pharmacy-technician-program/
- Address: 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd S, Salisbury, NC 28146, USA
- Phone: 704-216-7222
Divine Health Academy
Divine Health Academy trains pharmacy technology students to pass the PTCB exam. The curriculum, developed by a practicing pharmacist, includes 90 hours in the classroom, 60 hours for homework assignments, and 240 hours of pharmacy externship at an approved pharmacy. Areas of study include pharmacy terminology, pharmacology, receiving and preparing prescriptions for dispensing, packaging and labeling, inventory management, dosage calculations, customer service, maintaining a clean and safe environment, sterile compounding, aseptic techniques, and billing and insurance. The program is accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education. Students must obtain a minimum grade C in all courses to graduate from the program. The duration of the program is three months. New classes begin every three months. Day and evening schedules are available.
Admission criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Meet the requirements for general admission to the college
- Submit a completed application to the program
- Complete the Criminal Conviction form
- Consent to drug/alcohol testing – a positive drug test is grounds for dismissal
- Sign the Confidentiality Agreement
- Complete the Work History, Personal Reference, and Release form
- Complete a physical exam and required lab tests
- Provide proof of immunizations
- Consent to a criminal background check
- Secure liability insurance in the amount specified by the program director
Tuition for the program is $1485 and includes study materials, computer support, and liability insurance fees. It does not include the cost for the textbook and PTCB exam.
- Website: http://www.divinehealthacademy.com/programs
- Address: 5633 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28212
- Phone: 704-566-2955
- Fax: 704-566-2957
- Alt: 704-566-2956
- Email: admin@divinehealthacademy.com
Umanah Healthcare Institute
Umanah Healthcare Institute’s Pharmacy Technician program trains students in preparation for employment in a retail or hospital pharmacy. Students will learn how to count pills, process orders, maintain inventories, prepare and dispense medications, compound medications, package and label orders, and use the prescription balance. They will learn pharmacy terminology, pharmacy abbreviations, pharmacology, dosage calculations, drugs and their effects on the body, counting, mixing and pouring medications, maintain a clean and safe environment, and preparing documents to receive insurance payments. The curriculum covers 150 hours of theory in the classroom and lab plus 120 hours of pharmacy externship in an approved setting. Program graduates will be eligible to take the PTCB exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for 10 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Submit a completed enrollment application
- Submit a high school diploma or GED transcripts
- Proof documentation of current immunizations
- Obtain a negative TB skin test result
- Obtain a clean background check
- Have a valid state photo ID and social security number
- Consent to a drug and alcohol
- Complete the requirements for admission at least two days before the first day of class
Tuition for the program is $1,750 and includes the class textbook, liability insurance, exam prep book, and class handouts. Other costs that the student must cover include TB skin test, drug test, background check, uniform, and lab supply fee.
- Website: http://www.umanahinstitute.com/education-pharmacy-technician-course
- Address: 5801 Executive Center Drive, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28212
- Phone: 704-531-1100
- Fax: 704-532-4638
- Email: umanahinstitute@yahoo.com
Chosen Healthcare Institute, INC
Pharmacy Technician training at Chosen Healthcare Institute includes preparation for success on the NHA exam. The course will cover the essential knowledge and skills that will enable students to assist a licensed pharmacist with the dispensing of prescriptions in a retail or institutional pharmacy. Students will learn how to process medication orders, manage pharmacy inventories, compound medications, and use prescription balances. Other areas of study include pharmacy terminology, pharmacy abbreviations, pharmacology, dosage calculations, drugs and their effects on the body, counting, mixing and pouring medications, maintain a clean and safe environment, and preparing documents to receive insurance payments. The curriculum will cover 240 contact hours – 100 hours in the classroom and 140 hours in a skills lab. The duration of the program is 10 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Have a high school diploma or GED transcript
- Provide a valid state photo ID and social security card
- Submit a completed application and pay the non-refundable registration fee of $50
- Complete a criminal background check – available at Chosen Health Care Institute for $20 at Mecklenburg County Court House for $25
- Complete a physical exam
- Submit a negative TB test report
- Submit a satisfactory drug test report
Tuition for the program is $1,450, inclusive of the registration fee. The cost of the textbook is $100.
- Website: http://www.chosenhealthcareinstitute.com/healthcare-training-pharmacy-technician
- Address: 8401 University Executive Park Dr., Suite 111, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
- Phone: 704-547-1988
- Fax: 704-547-5077
- Email: chosenhealthcareinstituteinc@yahoo.com
Central Piedmont Community College
The Central Piedmont Pharmacy Technology is designed for adults who want to acquire the skills to perform the role and function of a pharmacy technician in a retail or institutional pharmacy. The curriculum builds upon the domains of healthcare and pharmaceutical principles. Instructors will focus on the role of the technician as part of the interdisciplinary team. The course covers packaging medications, updating patient profiles, preparing prescriptions for dispensing, mixing intravenous medications, managing inventories, gathering data for monitoring drug therapy, and referring patients to the pharmacist for counsel. Major courses include Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy Calculations, Sterile Products, Pharmacology, Trends in Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy, Pharmacy Dosage Forms, Pharmacy Professional Practice, Pharmacy Clinical, Professional Issues, Medical Terminology, and Survey of Medical Terminology. The content will also cover mechanisms of disease transmissions, infectious diseases, and infection control procedures to prepare students for participation in the pharmacy externship. The program leads to an Associate in Applied Science or diploma in pharmacy technology. Persons with an AAS degree are recognized as Validating Technicians by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Program graduates will be eligible to apply for the PTCB exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The program is accredited by the ASHP, so will confirm graduates’ eligibility to take the PTCB when completing an accredited program becomes a requirement in 2020. The degree option can be completed in two years (five semesters). The diploma program requires three semesters for completion.
Admission criteria:
- Attend a pharmacy technician information session
- Applicants will receive points for completing a pharmacy technician certificate program or work experience as a pharmacy technician
- Credit will also be given for completing some general education courses – Medical Terminology, Writing and Inquiry, General Psychology, Humanities, Writing and Research, Introduction to Communication and Principles of Biology
- Graduate from high school or have a GED
- Complete an application for admission to CPCC
- Request high school or any college transcripts to be sent directly to the to CPCC
- Take the required math and English placement tests
- Submit the results of a criminal background check
- Complete a medical exam including a record of immunizations and proof of medical insurance
Tuition costs $2,493 per semester for up to 17 credits for in-state students. The degree requires completion of 74 to 76 credits.
- Website: https://www.cpcc.edu/programs/pharmacy-technology
- Address: P.O. Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235-5009
- Phone: 704-330-2722