Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technician

A pharmacy technician is a health care provider who performs pharmacy-related functions under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies, and other health care agencies.

The Pharmacy Technician program was developed using accreditation standards of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Students will have a working knowledge of standards of practice, quality assurance, patient confidentiality, and communication skills needed in a professional environment. The program is accredited through ASHP/ACPE and is the only accredited pharmacy technician program in Oregon east of the Cascades. 

See the Pharmacy Technician page for program and contact information.

Programs

Career and Technical Education

One-Year Certificate of Completion

Courses

PHM 100 Pharmacy Technician Practice I (5 Credits)

Corequisites: PHM 110, PHM 115, PHM 120, PHM 190.

Recommended preparation: MTH 015 (or higher) or minimum placement Math Level 7; WR 065 (or higher or BA 214) or minimum placement Wr/Comm Level 7; and BI 105.

Introduces information, techniques, and procedures needed to assist the pharmacist in delivery of pharmaceutical products and services. Explores aspects of pharmacy in community, institution, and other practice settings. Covers the regulatory agencies, laws, and ethics affecting pharmacy practice. Explores employment opportunities, interpretation and processing of prescriptions, pharmacy law, standards of practice, and skills required of a pharmacy technician.

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PHM 110 Pharmacy Calculations (3 Credits)

Corequisites: PHM 100, PHM 115, PHM 120, PHM 190.

Recommended preparation: MTH 015 (or higher) or minimum placement Math Level 7.

Reviews math related to pharmacy technician duties. Covers systems of weight, measurement, and temperature as well as conversions between systems. Emphasizes skills needed to calculate doses, drug quantity or volume, intravenous flow rates, percentage concentrations, and mechanics of proportions related to pharmaceutical dosing. Introduces retail pricing and accounting.

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PHM 115 Pharmacy Technician Lab I (2 Credits)

Corequisites: PHM 100, PHM 110, PHM 120, PHM 190.

Complements lecture with hands-on experience in medication preparation, dispensing, calculations, and business applications.

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PHM 120 Pharmacology I (5 Credits)

Corequisites: PHM 100, PHM 110, PHM 115, PHM 190.

Introduces trade and generic names of commonly prescribed drugs used in prevention and treatment of various disease entities. Emphasizes important contraindications, side effects, precautions and interaction of drugs, and the process of drug utilization review. Covers pharmacological categories and factors than can affect drug kinetics.

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PHM 130 Pharmacology II (5 Credits)

Corequisites: PHM 140, PHM 145, PHM 191.

Continues the introduction to trade and generic names of commonly prescribed drugs used in prevention and treatment of various disease entities. Emphasizes important contraindications, side effects, precautions, drug interactions, and process of drug use review. Provides pharmacological categories and factors that can affect drug kinetics.

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PHM 140 Pharmacy Technician Practice II (5 Credits)

Corequisites: PHM 130, PHM 145, PHM 191.

Teaches information, techniques, and procedures needed to assist the pharmacist in delivery of pharmaceutical products and services. Covers pharmacy aspects in a community, institution, and other practice settings. Emphasizes pharmacy technician duties and responsibilities.

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PHM 145 Pharmacy Technician Lab II (1 Credit)

Corequisites: PHM 130, PHM 140, PHM 191.

Provides hands-on experience in intravenous medication preparation, sterile compounding, calculations, and maintaining drug stocks.

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PHM 180 Co-op Work Experience Pharmacy Technician (1-4 Credits)

Prerequisites: Instructor approval.

Provides experience in which students apply previous Pharmacy Technician classroom learning in an occupational setting. Credits depend on the number of hours worked. P/NP grading.

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PHM 190 Pharmacy Technician Practicum (1 Credit)

Corequisites: PHM 100, PHM 110, PHM 115, PHM 120.

Provides an unpaid learning experience which takes place on-site at a prearranged clinical facility and is supervised by a registered pharmacist. Passing grade will require completion of 40 hours of practice at a facility registered with the Central Oregon Community College Pharmacy Technician Program. P/NP grading.

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PHM 191 Pharmacy Technician Practicum II: Retail/Community (3 Credits)

Corequisites: PHM 130, PHM 140, PHM 145.

Provides an unpaid learning experience which takes place on-site at a prearranged clinical facility and is supervised by a registered pharmacist. Passing grade will require completion of 90 hours of practice at a facility registered with the Central Oregon Community College Pharmacy Technician Program. P/NP grading.

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PHM 199 Selected Topics: Pharmacy Technician (1-4 Credits)

This course is in development.

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PHM 298 Independent Study: Pharmacy Technician (1-4 Credits)

Prerequisites: Instructor approval.

Recommended preparation: prior coursework in the discipline.

Individualized, advanced study to focus on outcomes not addressed in existing courses or of special interest to a student. P/NP grading.

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PHM 299 Selected Topics: Pharmacy Technician (1-4 Credits)

Provides a learning experience not currently available in the pharmacy technician program; this course is in development to be proposed as a permanent course.

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