Pharmacy Technician

This course is temporarily unavailable.  For more information, contact Margaret Fox at 995-1235 or mfox@nmc.edu

CPhT Independent Study Training

Northwestern Michigan College offers a work skills independent study in Certified Pharmacy Technician Training. This independent study includes training and testing using the text: Fundamentals of Pharmacy Practice, Moodle, as well as independent projects and homework to prepare the entry-level Pharmacy Technician for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam and Certification as a Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

The 150 hour independent study engages the learner in activities, assignments, and learning assessments such as web searches, chapter assignments and tests which are designed to provide advanced learning experiences for the Pharmacy Technician. Activities, assignments, and learning assessments are included in Blackboard assignments. The chapters and their content include:

• History of Pharmacy Practice
  • Evolution of pharmacy
• Pharmacy Law and Ethics
  • Ethics, laws and regulations governing Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Technician
• Terminology and Abbreviations
  • Understanding the language of pharmacy
• Routes and Dosage Formulations
  • Ways medication are administered
• Anatomy and Physiology
  • The use and travel of medications in the body
• Top 200 Drugs
  • Brand, generic name of medications, use and strength
• Community Pharmacy Operations
  • Customer service, insurance billing and general practice in retail chains
• Community Pharmacy Calculations
  • Conversions, calculations and formulas used in everyday practice
• Compounding
  • Extemporaneous compounds, supplies, equipment and guidelines encountered by the Pharmacy Technician
• Institutional Pharmacy Operations
  • Pharmacy practice in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice and long-term care facilities
• Institutional Pharmacy Calculations
  • IV rates and TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) compounding
• Sterile Products
  • Understanding the principles of working in a sterile work environment

Becoming a CPhT will allow the Pharmacy Technician advancement opportunities in the Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Industry. Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) work in a practice setting under the guidance of a pharmacist. The CPhT, according to the PTCB, "is accountable to the supervising pharmacist, who is legally responsible by virtue of state licensure for the care and safety of patients served by the pharmacy." The responsibilities of a CPhT will vary based on their practice settings. Practice settings may include hospitals, community pharmacies, long-term care, and in-home health care.

The CPhT may provide assistance to the Pharmacist by:

• labeling and filling prescriptions
• entering prescriptions into the computer
• verifying the prescriptions are delivered to the right customer in a timely manner
• replenishing and checking all medications and expiration dates in various drug kits and trays according to approved list of contents
• ordering and stocking medications
• working with insurance carriers to obtain payments and refilling authority
• preparing medication inventories
• answering questions and resolving problems for issues concerning pharmacy operations
• assisting in outpatient or inpatient dispensing
• preparing IV mixtures

Application and Registration Procedures

The Certified Pharmacy Technician Training is a 3 credit independent study offered through the Department of Allied Health at Northwestern Michigan College. To be eligible a candidate must meet the minimum COMPASS Test score requirements as follows:

• Reading - 82 or above…If lower, students must take ENG 99 - Intro to College Reading/Writing or ENG 108 - Reading & Learning Strategies.
  Students who have completed a college degree do not need to take the reading part of the COMPASS test.
• Writing - 70 or above…If lower, must take ENG 99 - Intro. Col. Reading/Writing or ENG 111 - English Composition and ENG 11 - English/Writing Methods.
  Students who transfer ENG 111 do not need to take the writing part of the COMPASS test.
• Algebra - 44 on Pre-Algebra or 19 on Algebra…Math competency equivalent to successful completion of MTH 08 - Pre-Algebra. Students who transfer a MTH 23 - Beginning Algebra course that was taken within the last 5 years DO NOT need to take the math part of the COMPASS test.
  Students who transfer MTH 23 that was taken more than 5 years ago may take the COMPASS test and demonstrate current math skills by placing into MTH 23 or successfully complete a math competency exam.

The first step towards completing an independent study is to apply to Northwestern Michigan College. If this Certified Pharmacy Technician Independent Study sounds interesting to you, refer to the Pharmacy Technician Step-by-Step Process for specifics on enrolling in the training. If you have further questions, please contact Mary VanderKolk at mvanderkolk@nmc.edu or 231-995-1239.

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