Pharmacy Technology
As a student in the Pharmacy Technology program at Piedmont Technical College, you’ll learn about medications, their effects on the body, pharmacy chemistry, packaging and labeling. You’ll spend time in the program’s dedicated pharmacy lab before working rotations at actual pharmacies, in both hospital and drug store settings.
A Career as a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists by providing patients with medication and health care products. They have strong customer service skills and are able to multi-task in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
Through hands-on training and real-world experience, you’ll learn exactly what health care institutions are looking for in this rapidly growing field, and you’ll graduate fully prepared for a career as a pharmacy technician.
What Will I Do as a Pharmacy Technician?
Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists dispense prescription medication. They work in retail pharmacies and hospitals.
Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists, who must review all prescriptions before they are given to patients. If a patient’s question is about the medication or health matters, the pharmacy technician arranges for the customer to speak with the pharmacist.
Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications.
Some Job Duties May Include:
- Collect patient information needed to fill a prescription
- Count tablets and measure amounts of other medication for prescriptions
- Compound or mix medications, such as preparing ointments
- Package and label prescriptions
- Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
- Do routine pharmacy tasks, such as answering phone calls from customers
Career Quick Facts
- Career Outlook
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- Median Salary Average: $30,410
- SC Salary Range: $21,910-$41,950
- 78% placement rate for 2017-2018 graduates
Salary and career information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Physical Demands
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- much time spent standing
- considerable stress during busy periods
- may have to lift boxes weighing up to 20 lbs., retrieve supplies from high shelves using stepladder
- some preparations require multiple hand washings, special clothing or other forms of protection
- Entry Level Positions
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- Pharmacy Technician
- Employers
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- Adair Apothecary
- Bi-Lo
- Carolina Community Pharmacy
- Carolina Health Centers
- CVS
- Drug Lo
- Food Lion
- Fred's Pharmacy
- Gilder & Weeks Pharmacy
- Good Shepard Clinic
- Harvey's Supermarket
- K-Mart
- Langston Place
- Laurens County Heath Care System (Now Prisma Health)
- Laurens Drug Company & Medical Equipment
- Lexington Medical Center
- Long's Drugs
- Newberry County Memorial Hospital
- Parkman's Pharmacy
- Parrish Home Mediczl
- Prosperity Drug Company
- Publix Super Market
- Rite Aid
- Savitz Drug Store
- Self Regional Healthcare
- Strom's Drug Store
- Target
- Walgreens Drug Store
- Wal-Mart
- Wattsville Drug
- West End Drugs
- Wingard's Pharmacy
Program Information
In addition to the skills acquired to become a pharmacy technician, students will learn to read medication orders, mix medications, assemble unit doses of medications and prepare 24-hour patient medication carts. Students will also learn proper labeling for various types of medications.
In order to become a State Certified Pharmacy Technician, the student must earn the Pharmacy Technology 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).
The Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 657-3000 (www.ashp.org).
- Fact Sheets
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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.
- Graduation Plan
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Our semester-by-semester graduation plans will show you when required courses in your major are offered. Following this plan will help you stay on track and graduate on time.