Program Description
The Pharmacy Technician residential program at NIAH prepares the student
to work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, preparing and
dispensing medications. It is designed to prepare students to enter the
pharmacy field at an entry level in hospitals, community (retail) pharmacies,
or clinics, as well as non-traditional settings.
Graduates will be able to:
- Describe and understand federal and state laws and regulations associated with the receipt, screening, transcribing or interpreting, and delegation of prescription/medication orders
- Receive telephone, electronic, and faxed prescriptions from prescribers and assess orders for completeness
- Identify the schedule for controlled substance and recognize who has
prescribing authority; verify a prescriber’s DEA number according to
established procedures via the DEA - Explain how to report a medication error to ISMP, MERP, or FDA
MedWatch. - Knowledge of the profession of pharmacy technology, the health care
system, medical ethics and law, HIPAA, and the interaction with patients. - List and describe methods for achieving and maintaining quality
assurance, and the duties and tasks of the pharmacy technician that
require quality assurance procedures.
Job Outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacy Technicians, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm
Program Details
This program is typically completed in 6 months. Topics covered include an introduction to pharmacy science, a study of body systems, classifications of drugs, communication skills, math for pharmacy technology and ethics, law and HIPAA rules.
Length of program: 256 Clock Hours; 24 Instructional Weeks
Credential Awarded: Certificate
Mode of Delivery: Residential
Students must register with the State of Georgia Board of Pharmacy which includes a mandatory background check. All students must register with the State of Georgia, which includes a mandatory finger-print background check. Failure of this background check will impact your ability to secure employment as a Pharmacy Technician.
Our Pharmacy Technician program utilizes both didactic and laboratory teaching methods followed by clinical experiences. All classes are taught on-site, by instructors who are highly qualified in their areas. The use of textbooks, journals and computers in the classroom, as well as tablet counting equipment, liquid dispensers, autoclaves, lab blenders and balances, and other medical equipment, gives students both the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary for success.
An externship course is included in this program to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations in a healthcare setting. Students are required to complete the required externship hours and other related learning activities prior to graduation.
Graduates are eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) exam.
Norcross Institute offers a variety of personalized career services to current students and graduates. We work directly with employers to help provide exposure to our highly qualified students and graduates. Our goal is to align current students and graduates with employers and open positions that match their qualifications through our Employer Partnership Program.
We offer a range of job search strategies such as:
- Interview tips & techniques
- Information about career fields and employment outlook
- Resumé and cover letter assistance
- Individual career coaching targeted specifically to the student and his or her goals
- Assist graduates in job placement with various hospitals
We also offer help on how to utilize various online employment websites for students and graduates, including E-Hire, which can send students job leads within a 50-mile radius of their zip code, specific to their certification. Although NIAH is devoted to helping students in job placement, the school cannot guarantee jobs to graduates upon program completion or upon graduation.