Pharmacy Technician - Henry Ford Community College

Pharmacy Technician from Henry Ford Community College is a Campus Certificate Pharmacy degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. The Pharmacy Technician Program is a Level II (Complex Skills Certificate) program. This one-year certificate program is designed to prepare professional multi-skilled individuals for employment as an entry-level pharmacy technician in hospital, retail, community or other institutional pharmacies. Clinical duties are emphasized in the classroom and laboratory with directed practical experience in selected hospital, out patient, home infusion, long-term care and compounding pharmacies. Pharmacy technicians are skilled health specialists who, under the direction and supervision of a pharmacist, assist in the varied activities of a pharmacy department. The pharmacy technician may be responsible for: A. Preparing and dispensing medications in accordance with standard procedures and laws under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. B. Transcribing and processing physician orders. C. Preparing intravenous admixtures, including chemotherapy medications. D. Maintaining patient profiles and medication records electronically. E. Preparing bulk formulations and compounding. F. Maintaining inventories of pharmaceutical supplies. G. Communicating effectively with patients and members of the health care team. The Pharmacy Technician Program requires approximately 37 credits to earn a certificate. Students in the program will have the opportunity to practice their skills using pharmacy specific equipment and supplies. This program begins only once per year in the fall semester. Externships may be taken in the spring, summer, or fall semester. The externship rotations are arranged and supervised by the program's technical coordinator. The program is affiliated with sixteen hospital pharmacies, twelve or more out patient (retail and community) pharmacies, and several home infusion and long term care pharmacies. Pharmacy Technician vs. Pre-Pharmacy Programs HFCC offers its students two distinct pharmacy options. One option is the is a one-year Pharmacy Technician Program. The technician curriculum is designed to prepare the students for employment assisting pharmacists after completion of the program. The courses in the Pharmacy Technician Program are designed to prepare the students for employment immediately and not designed for transfer nor intended for those students primarily interested in applying to pharmacy schools. If a student's primary intent is on becoming a pharmacist, then the second pharmacy option at HFCC which is the Associate in Science Pre-Pharmacy Program is the curriculum that should be followed. The Pre-Pharmacy Academic Transfer Program is designed for the transfer of course work for those students primarily interested in applying to pharmacy schools. Career Opportunities According to recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for pharmacy technicians in this region are expected to remain strong through this decade. The shortage of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians is expected to continue as the health services industry expands because of technological advances in medicine and an aging population. In addition, employment growth will be driven by the increase in the number of out patient pharmacies, home infusion pharmacies, compounding pharmacies and other pharmacy related facilities that need skilled support personnel, particularly pharmacy technicians. General information about career placement and job success is available through either the Health Careers Office or the College's Placement Office. The Placement Office maintains a listing of available pharmacy technician positions registered with the College, and it will assist PHT students in finding employment. In addition, salary expectations are discussed during the PHT program pre-acceptance interview. View more details on Henry Ford Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Pharmacy courses.