Pharmacy Technician Program

Program Mission Statement

To educate future pharmacy technicians to advance and promote the best’s uses of medication for the community at large.

Program Purpose Statement

To be a model, continuously improving pharmacy technician training program which allows all students to achieve their maximum potential through a rigorous, evolving curriculum.

Program Accreditation

The Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), www.ashp.org.

The following program information for the Pharmacy Technician program rates includes persistence, retention, graduation, and certification exam pass rates.

Professional Credentials

Certified Pharmacy Technician (subject to meeting state requirements)

Graduates are eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam to become nationally recognized as Certified Pharmacy Technicians. With program completion, national certification, and a working externship, a student is then eligible to become certified with the state of South Carolina.

Professional Licensure and Certification Requirements

Students who are considering an academic program that may allow them to pursue professional licensure in another state are strongly encouraged to check that state’s information and contact the appropriate licensing agency for additional information and guidance before beginning the program.

Pharmacy technicians work primarily in franchise retail stores, hospitals, and mail-order pharmacies but can also work in rehabilitation centers, home health care, independent pharmacies, specialty prescription pharmacies, compounding pharmacies, and nursing homes.

Job duties include

• providing customer service,
• processing prescriptions,
• compounding,
• running pharmacy software,
• maintaining inventory control,
• handling purchasing,
• billing and record keeping, and
• preparing IVs.

National Outlook

National employment projections and more information about a career as a pharmacy technician is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The pharmacy technician works under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacist, as part of the team responsible for carrying out a physician's pharmaceutical orders. Pharmacy technicians assist in compounding, distributing, and dispensing medications. 

The Pharmacy Technician Program plays a vital role in preparing students to perform essential functions in various pharmacy settings. Those who complete the program will have a strong understanding of how to assist the pharmacist within their scope of practice and to perform necessary unsupervised daily tasks, including basic to extensive medication preparation, dosage calculations, compounding, IV admixture patient information maintenance, inventory and quality control. This program includes 270 clinical rotation hours. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THE PROGRAM

• Pharmacy law and ethics
• Commonly prescribed brand and generic drugs
• Medical terminology
• Pharmacy clinical/science applications
• Drug dosage and calculations

IS PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY RIGHT FOR YOU?

A career in pharmacy technology may be for you if you

• appreciate accuracy and precision in your work
• enjoy a flexible work schedule
• can maintain confidentiality
• have a desire to help others
• can work in a capacity that affects someone's health and life

Entrance Requirements

Admission Requirements for non-experienced pharmacy technician applicants

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Students must demonstrate minimum proficiency in English language and mathematics. See Required Scores section below.
• Students must be eligible for SC Board of Pharmacy Technician registration.
• Students must complete the online Pharmacy Technician Career Talk presentation within the past two years.

Admission Requirements for experienced pharmacy technician applicants

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Students must demonstrate minimum proficiency in English language and mathematics. See Required Scores section below.
• Students currently holding an SC Board of Pharmacy Technician registration must be in good standing with the SC Board of Pharmacy.
• If applicable, out-of-state applicants must be in good standing with respective State Boards of Pharmacy and be eligible for SC Board of Pharmacy Technician registration.
• Students may hold an active national certification and be in good standing with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
• Students must complete the online Pharmacy Technician Career Talk presentation within the past two years.
  • After completing the online Pharmacy Technician Career Talk, current registered and/or practicing pharmacy technicians should contact Sherry Wandtke, Pharmacy Technician Program Director, to verify the following documentation:
    1. Copy of current South Carolina Pharmacy Technician Registration
    2. If applicable, PTCB National Certification
    3. Affidavit of Pharmacy Technician Experience (notarized copy)

Required scores

To demonstrate English language and math proficiency, one of each of the following is required:

• English Proficiency
  • ACT score of 19 (taken within the last 5 years)
  • SAT score of 480 (taken within the last 5 years)
  • Accuplacer scores of 61 for sent skills and 55 for rdg (taken within the last 5 years)
• Math Proficiency
  • ACT score of 17 (taken within the last 5 years)
  • SAT score of 440 (taken within the last 5 years)
  • Accuplacer scores of 20 for arith and 33 for rdg (taken within the last 5 years)
• If you need to schedule Accuplacer scores, visit Placement Testing.

Requirements for Completion

• Students are required to complete and pass a physical, including documentation of required immunizations.
• Students are required to complete a criminal background check. Students may be subject to more than one background check during the program based on affiliate requirements.
• Students are required to have a negative 10-panel drug screen.
• Students must be able to attend all clinical experiences.
• Students must complete a preclinical orientation.

• Pharmacy Technician
  Find the required courses, scheduled dates and costs for the Pharmacy Technician program.