Pharmacy Technician
Your Prescription to Success
The Pharmacy Technician program prepares you for an essential healthcare role working alongside licensed pharmacists. In this hands-on program, you'll master medication preparation, dispensing procedures and patient care skills needed in retail, hospital and long-term care settings. Our ASHP/ACPE accredited curriculum ensures you'll meet state certification requirements. With strong attention to detail and communication skills, you'll be ready to help manage prescriptions, maintain inventory and provide quality customer service.
PROGRAM GOALS
Master Pharmacy Operations
You will learn all aspects of pharmacy operations, including how to prepare and dispense medications, package pharmaceuticals, manage inventory with proper stock rotation, handle expired medications and maintain accurate records while following pharmacy regulations to ensure patient safety.
Develop Medication Knowledge
You will study basic pharmacology to understand how drugs affect the body. You'll learn the names of the top 200 pharmaceutical drugs as well as their uses, common dosages and potential side effects.
Build Professional Skills
You will develop the essential skills employers value, including clear communication with patients and healthcare providers, effective teamwork in busy pharmacy settings, paying attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to adapt to different situations and pharmacy environments.
Pharmacy Technician
Diploma
Locations: Lincoln / Online
You'll learn to assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and compounding both sterile and non-sterile medications. Your role is critical to the overall success of the pharmacy, helping everything run smoothly while providing excellent patient care.
ESTIMATED TUITION
$3,995
CREDIT HOURS
25
PROGRAM LENGTH
2 terms
SCHEDULE
Full-Time
STARTING TERM
Fall / Spring
WHY SCC?
How long does it take to complete the program?
Our Pharmacy Technician program can be completed in less than one year, allowing you to start your healthcare career quickly while gaining comprehensive knowledge in medical terminology, pharmacology, pharmaceutical calculations and daily pharmacy operations.
Is SCC's program accredited?
Our program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) which ensures your training meets national quality standards.
Will I get hands-on experience?
SCC's program is hands-on which includes doing your clinical work with one of our large network of pharmacies. Many students find jobs at their clinical sites after graduation.
Will I be prepared for certification?
You'll take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam prior to graduating, helping you enter the workforce quicker. This certification is accepted in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, giving you flexibility in where you can work.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Retail Pharmacy Technician
Retail pharmacy technicians work in community pharmacies dispensing medications, managing inventory, and providing customer service. You'll process prescriptions, prepare medications, handle insurance claims, and assist pharmacists with daily operations.
Hospital Pharmacy Technician
Hospital pharmacy technicians serve in healthcare facilities preparing medications for inpatients, maintaining medication carts and assisting with medication distribution systems.
Sterile Compounding Technician
Sterile compounding technicians specialize in preparing sterile medications in controlled environments following strict protocols. This specialized role requires certification in sterile compounding techniques and offers advancement opportunities
Next Steps
Program Chair
Additional Resources
-
Accreditation
- Get Started Checklist (PDF)
- Health Statement (PDF)
- Immunization Waiver Form (PDF)
- Essential Functions (PDF)
- CPR Training
- 24-25 Info Sheet
Accreditation and Credentialing Organizations
The Southeast Community College Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by:
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20814
866-279-0681
Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
190 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60603-3499
312-664-3575
SCC is a PTCB recognized education/training program. PTCB requires applicants for PTCB Credentials, including CPhT, CSPT, and specified Assessment-Based Certificate Programs, to complete a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program or to complete another pathway.
Diploma Programs with Reduced Financial Aid Eligibility
According to federal regulations [34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), and guidance from the Department of Education, if a non-degree program (diploma, certificate) does not fully transfer to an associate degree, that program is subject to a specific calculation that will establish how many credits within the program are eligible for federal financial aid. The amount of aid available to the student is determined based on those eligible credits, and the student’s enrollment status (full-time, ¾ time, half-time, less-than-half-time).
So, what does this mean?
If a student enrolls in one of the programs subject to the calculation, federal financial
aid may be limited. You will be responsible for the tuition and fees for the number
of credits not covered by financial aid.
Please refer to the SCC catalog for current program requirements.
State Licensure or Certification Requirements
Students graduating from SCC’s Pharmacy Tech program will sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, which is accepted in all 50 States and U.S. territories. The exam is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. The program is accredited by ASHP/ACPE (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists).
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution
Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.