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PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

If you are organized, love working with people and have great listening skills, becoming a Pharmacy Technician may be for you. The Pharmacy Technician program at Central Coast College (CCC) is a great place to begin and it only takes 18 weeks to complete.

As a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) recognized school, our graduates are prepared to take the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification exam.

What are you waiting for? We are enrolling now. Click here to get started.

Pharmacy Technician program at Central Coast College

At Central Coast College, our Pharmacy Technician program is designed to prepare students for a pharmacy career in the health care industry. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for helping licensed pharmacists, by assisting in measuring, mixing, counting, labeling, and recording the correct dosages of prescription medications. Pharmacy Technicians are also responsible for establishing and maintaining patient record files, submitting insurance claim forms, and managing prescription and over-the-counter medication inventories.

This 18-week program provides students with intensive training to learn the skills needed for entry-level employment as Pharmacy Technicians, and students receive real-world on-the-job experience through an Externship.

In the Pharmacy Technician program, you’ll learn how to:

  • Fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist
  • Utilize relevant software applications
  • Recognize the classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs
  • Understand brand, generic, and OTC (over the counter) medications
  • Adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations
  • Comprehend and perform insurance procedures

Pharmacy Technician Program Courses Include:

  • Pharmacy Laws and Ethics
  • Prescriptions Processing
  • Pharmacology

Pharmacy Technician Program Overview

  • Total Weeks in program: 18 weeks
  • Quarter Credit Hours: 22 hours
  • Total Clock Hours: 336
  • Classroom Hours: 144
  • Lab Hours: 72
  • Clinical Externship Hours: 120
  • Teacher/Student ratio:
    • Class Lecture: 1/35
    • Class Lab: 1/25

Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion. Pharmacy Technicians hold jobs with career opportunities in retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, pharmacy laboratories, compounding pharmacies, and as pharmaceutical sales representatives.

FAQs about Central Coast College’s Pharmacy Technician Program

A pharmacy technician assists pharmacists by preparing medications, managing inventory, handling prescriptions, processing insurance, and helping customers, ensuring safe, efficient pharmacy operations in retail, hospital, or clinical settings.

Central Coast College’s Pharmacy Technician program can be completed in as few as 18 weeks!

Central Coast College’s Pharmacy Technician program is offered in a hybrid-online format. Students learn classroom theory online, while completing hands-on training in on-campus labs. All students also gain valuable experience through an externship.

Many of Central Coast College’s Pharmacy Technician graduates go to work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, mail-order pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies. Our Career Services department provides every student with a wide range of career support services and comprehensive job placement assistance.

In Central Coast College’s Pharmacy Technician program, you’ll gain real-world skills, including how to fill prescriptions, utilize relevant medical software, recognize the classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs, understand brand, generic, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations, and comprehend and perform insurance procedures. Our hands-on training prepares you for the tasks employers are hiring for, so you can step confidently into your healthcare career. Our Career Services department also provides every student with a wide range of support services and job placement assistance.

Graduates of Central Coast College’s Pharmacy Technician program receive a Certificate of Completion and are prepared to take the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification exam.

To enroll, you’ll need a high school diploma or a GED. Don’t have your diploma yet? No problem – Central Coast College offers two high school completion programs to help you get started. Submit an interest form, visit our campus, or call 831-424-6767 to get in contact with our admissions team.