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Pharmacy Technician Program

Pharmacy Technician | Los Angeles, OC & Ontario, CA

The pharmacy field is changing. With the expansion of retail pharmacies, the emergence of new medical technologies, and advances in science offering a greater number of therapeutic breakthroughs, pharmacy is an exciting field to be in.

At American Career College, our Pharmacy Technician program focuses on preparing you with the technical knowledge and practical skills necessary for positions related to the manufacturing, distribution, or support of pharmacy products.

Choosing the right pharmacy technician school can be a difficult choice. At ACC, we emphasize hands-on training and real-world preparation. Train to perform critical tasks to keep pharmacies running smoothly so patients can receive optimal instruction and service.

Find a pharmacy technician program near you. Our program is available at our three Southern California campuses located in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County>.

PICK UP THE PACE! Want to jump start your career as a Pharmacy Technician? Our accelerated pharmacy technician program allows you to earn your college diploma in as little as 9 months.

This program is taught in a blended format combining online classes and only 2 days a week of in-person instruction.  

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"I'm really scared of blood so being a pharmacy technician seems like the best place for me in healthcare. I was hired straight from my externship and now work with a great team that helps and supports me."

- Joseph A. '17 Pharmacy Technician Graduate
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Pharmacy Technician Program Overview

The American Career College Pharmacy Technician program is designed to train you to work with licensed pharmacists, performing responsibilities such as labeling and dispensing medication, updating patient information and rotating inventory.

Upon successful completion of the school's program and earning your pharmacy technician diploma, graduates may pursue entry-level positions and demonstrate many of the following skills1:

  • Understand the responsibilities and duties of the pharmacy technician, including ethical standards within the practice of pharmacy
  • Know the trade and generic names of selected drugs, drug classifications, indications, routes of administration, side effects, dosages, and storage requirements
  • Understand pharmacy law, basic chemistry, pharmacology, dosage calculations, inpatient pharmacy procedures, and retail pharmacy procedures
  • Understand pharmaceutical and medical terminology, including abbreviations and symbols used in prescribing, dispensing and charting
  • Perform pharmaceutical preparation skills, including filling prescriptions and preparing sterile products;
  • Have an understanding of basic anatomy and related pathological conditions

American Career College's dynamic pharmacy technician program offers a curriculum that helps prepares you for the professional world by providing training in basic computer operations, such as data input procedures used in maintaining patients' medication records.

Tuition

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out the pharmacy technician school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Pharmacy Technician program cost, access our tuition info.

Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

The focus is on your success!

The goal of our pharmacy technician program is to help you graduate with the confidence and qualifications to begin your career as a pharmacy technician.

Find a pharmacy technician school near you! Our accredited Pharmacy Technician training program is available at our three Southern California campuses:

Careers After I Graduate

Pharmacy technicians work in a variety of different settings, receiving prescription requests, counting tablets and delivering medications for distribution to patients.

With your American Career College Pharmacy Technician diploma, you may expect to qualify for entry-level positions in1:

  • Retail Pharmacies
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Homes
  • Home Health Pharmacies
  • Clinics
  • Electronic shopping and mail-order houses
  • General merchandise stores

A few interesting facts2 about Pharmacy Technician careers: 

  • The number of older people is growing, and older people use more prescription drugs than younger people.
  • Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications. They may make rounds in the hospital, giving medications to patients.

Many area employers are very familiar with the quality of ACC programs and our school's track record for preparing confident, qualified professionals for rewarding careers. 

1California Employment Development Department OCC Guide, Pharmacy Technicians in California

2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacy Technicians

What Will I Learn?

This class curriculum is divided into learning units called class modules. Standalone core class modules for the American Career College Pharmacy Technician program include:

  • Pharmacy Law – In these courses, you will be introduced to the legal duties and responsibilities of both the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician. You will gain familiarity with regulatory agencies and their functions, including: DEA, NAPB, State Boards, FDA, JACHO, ASHP and CSHP.
  • Drug Fundamentals – Coursework in this class module is designed to provide you with an understanding of trade and generic names, pharmaceutical compounding, drug classifications, indications, dosages, routes of administration, and side effects. You will also receive a general overview of basic chemistry skills and learn how to use the Periodic Table of the Elements.
  • Pharmacology – These courses provides instruction in the various effects of drugs and the processes involved in pharmacokinetics. Common pathological conditions and diseases that affect each of the systems are discussed, and hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings will be practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.
  • Drug Distribution – Coursework in this class module is designed to provide you with an introduction to the language of pharmacy abbreviations. As you become adept at deciphering medication orders through daily lab exercises, you will learn the mathematical conversions and dosage calculations necessary to correctly process drug orders in the hospital or inpatient pharmacy setting.
  • IV Preparation – This course provides you with an understanding of the procedures, skills, and techniques used in the preparation of sterile products for both hospital and home health care pharmacies. You will learn the calculations involved in the preparation of intravenous solutions and apply hands-on procedures in the preparation of sterile products using aseptic technique.
  • Retail Pharmacy – These courses are designed to provide you with training in such procedures as filling prescriptions accurately, drug procurement, and third-party billing. Hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings are practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.
  • Pharmacy Technician Externship – Under the direct supervision of qualified personnel, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills presented and practiced throughout the school's program.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

What Will I Do as a Pharmacy Technician?

American Career College’s training program helps you earn your diploma and prepare to pursue exciting career opportunities as an entry-level pharmacy technician. On the job, pharmacy technicians play a vital role in helping licensed pharmacists dispense medications, whether in retail pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, or other similar environments.

As a pharmacy technician, your day-to-day responsibilities may include1:

  • Taking necessary information from customers and/or health professionals in order to fill their prescriptions
  • Counting tablets and measuring amounts of other medication for prescriptions
  • Compounding or mixing medications, such as ointments
  • Packaging and labeling prescriptions
  • Accepting payment for prescriptions and processing insurance claims.
  • Doing routine pharmacy tasks, such as answering phone calls from customers.

You'll be on your way!

As you begin training for your new career as a pharmacy technician, the ongoing development of your skills can create increased opportunities for advancement. Even after you are employed, American Career College's Career Services team will remain committed to providing you with the resources, support, and personalized assistance you need to keep your health care career on track.

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacy Technicians

FAQs

What does a pharmacy technician do?

Pharmacy technicians are a pharmacist’s right hand. They take care of a variety of tasks to help a pharmacy run smoothly — from dispensing medication to tracking inventory.

Here are some things you may do as a pharmacy technician:

  • Greet patients and receive prescription requests
  • Fill, label and distribute prescriptions
  • Measure, mix and pour dosages of medication
  • Prepare IV medications
  • Create labels
  • Update patient information
  • Package or replace pharmaceuticals1

1California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Pharmacy Technicians in California

Pharmacy Technician Training Overview

The American Career College Pharmacy Technician program is designed to train you to work with licensed pharmacists, performing responsibilities such as labeling and dispensing medication, updating patient information and rotating inventory.

Upon successful completion of pharmacy technician school, graduates may pursue entry-level positions and demonstrate many of the following skills:

  • Understand the responsibilities and duties of the pharmacy technician, including ethical standards within the practice of pharmacy
  • Know the trade and generic names of selected drugs, drug classifications, indications, routes of administration, side effects, dosages and storage requirements
  • Understand pharmacy law, basic chemistry, pharmacology, dosage calculations, inpatient pharmacy procedures and retail pharmacy procedures
  • Understand pharmaceutical and medical terminology, including abbreviations and symbols used in prescribing, dispensing and charting
  • Perform pharmaceutical preparation skills, including filling prescriptions and preparing sterile products;
  • Have an understanding of basic anatomy and related pathological conditions

American Career College's dynamic Pharmacy Technician program offers a curriculum that helps prepare you for the professional world by providing training in basic computer operations, such as data input procedures used in maintaining patients' medication records.

Tuition

Our admissions and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you break down the pharmacy technician school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Pharmacy Technician program cost, access our tuition info.

Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

The focus is on your success!

The goal of our Pharmacy Technician program is to help you graduate with the confidence and qualifications to begin your career as a pharmacy technician.

Am I a good fit for the Pharmacy Technician program?

If you want a hands-on healthcare career but would rather not work with blood, our Pharmacy Technician program might be a good match for you.

Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great pharmacy technician:

Active listening – Pharmacy technicians need to be able to communicate with both patients and pharmacists, understanding what is being said and asking the right questions.

Reading comprehension – From prescriptions to label information, pharmacy technicians consume written information in a variety of formats and need to be able to accurately interpret and process that information.

Speaking – Pharmacy technicians work directly with patients and pharmacists and need to be able to communicate important medication information effectively.

Monitoring – Pharmacy technicians perform essential tasks to keep a pharmacy running smoothly, including monitoring and tracking inventory.

Mathematics – Pharmacy technicians measure, mix, pour and record the amount and dosages of medication.

Where can I work as a pharmacy technician?

Pharmacy technicians can work in a variety of settings, including:

  • Health and personal care stores
  • General medical and surgical hospitals
  • Outpatient care centers
  • Electronic shopping and mail-order houses
  • General merchandise stores1

1California Employment Development Department OCC Guide, Pharmacy Technicians

What will I learn in the Pharmacy Technician program?

Our pharmacy technician curriculum is divided into learning units called class modules. Standalone core class modules for the American Career College Pharmacy Technician program include:

Pharmacy Law – In these courses, you will be introduced to the legal duties and responsibilities of both the pharmacist and pharmacy technician. You will gain familiarity with regulatory agencies and their functions, including DEA, NAPB, State Boards, FDA, JACHO, ASHP and CSHP.

Drug Fundamentals – Coursework in this class module is designed to provide you with an understanding of trade and generic names, pharmaceutical compounding, drug classifications, indications, dosages, routes of administration and side effects. You will also receive a general overview of basic chemistry skills and learn how to use the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Pharmacology – These courses provide instruction in the various effects of drugs and the processes involved in pharmacokinetics. Common pathological conditions and diseases that affect each of the systems are discussed, and hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings will be practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.

Drug Distribution – Coursework in this class module is designed to provide you with an introduction to the language of pharmacy abbreviations. As you become adept at deciphering medication orders through daily lab exercises, you will learn the mathematical conversions and dosage calculations necessary to correctly process drug orders in the hospital or inpatient pharmacy setting.

IV Preparation – This course provides you with an understanding of the procedures, skills and techniques used in the preparation of sterile products for both hospital and home healthcare pharmacies. You will learn the calculations involved in the preparation of intravenous solutions and apply hands-on procedures in the preparation of sterile products using aseptic technique.

Retail Pharmacy – These courses are designed to provide you with training in such procedures as filling prescriptions accurately, drug procurement, and third-party billing. Hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings are practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.

Pharmacy Technician Externship – Under the direct supervision of qualified personnel, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills presented and practiced throughout the school's program.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

How long is the Pharmacy Technician program?

Students can earn their diploma to become a pharmacy technician in as little as 9 months.

How much does the Pharmacy Technician program cost?

Our admissions and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you break down the pharmacy technician school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Pharmacy Technician program cost, access our tuition info.

Is financial aid available for the Pharmacy Technician program?

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

Will I get real-world training?

Yes! ACC's Pharmacy Technician program includes a 320-hour, in-person externship that gives students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired learning hands-on throughout the training program.

What is the difference between a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician?

A pharmacist is a licensed healthcare professional with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, responsible for interpreting prescriptions, dispensing medications and providing patient counseling.1 A pharmacy technician works under the supervision of and supports pharmacists by assisting with administrative tasks like prescription verification, medication packaging, and inventory management.2

1California Department of Huyman Resources, Pharmacist
2California Department of Human Resources, Pharmacy Technician

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