Pharmacy Technician
Your pathway to caring for others
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program prepares students for the role of support personnel in the hospital, clinical, home health care agencies, mail-order and retail pharmacies. Working under the direction of a licensed pharmacist, Pharmacy Technicians provide assistance to the pharmacist in a variety of tasks involving the packaging, distribution, compounding, labeling, and recording of drugs.
Program Options
Students will receive training in drug products, calculations, dosages, dispensing techniques, inventory management, third-party billing, and Washington State pharmacy law. Special emphasis is on product knowledge and learning detailed information about a wide variety of drugs. In a hospital or assisted living facility pharmacy technicians often work with patient charts, medications, medication inventories, and orders. In addition to lecture, students will have hands-on training in a lab environment and an opportunity to complete a practicum experience. Clinical practice in hospitals and retail pharmacies provide actual experiences to prepare students for entry-level positions in a variety of pharmacy settings. A state license is required of all those who work in this field and is obtained after passing the National Certification Exam and applying to the Washington State Department of Health–Board of Pharmacy.
Students may enter this program during Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters and attend on full-time or part-time basis. The estimated program length is based on full-time enrollment with a Fall quarter start. All Pharmacy Technician foundation courses must be completed prior to entry into Core courses. Students may enter Pharmacy Technician Core courses Winter ONLY. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss sequencing and work out their individual schedule with a counselor or program advisor. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length. The certificate program is not intended for university transfer.
| Degrees/Certificates | Credits | Estimated Program Length | Foundation Course Dates | Core Course Dates |
| Pharmacy Technician Certificate | 69 | 6 Quarters | Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters | Winter Quarter |
Certificate Options
Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Certification/Licensure Options
Upon successful completion of the Pharmacy Technician Certificate, graduates are eligible to take the national Pharmacy Technician certification exam offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Upon satisfactory completion of the exam, graduates will be qualified to use the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credentials. These credentials are recognized nationally; however, each state sets its own scope of practice for Pharmacy Technicians. In Washington State, graduates will be eligible to apply for state Pharmacy Technician certification, which is required to work as a pharmacy technician in Washington State (RCW 18.64; WAC 246-945).
Program Entry
- Apply to the Admissions Office for an application to Skagit Valley College (SVC).
- Make an appointment to take your Accuplacer test. It is strongly recommended that candidates be a high school graduate or have passed the General Education Equivalence (GED) exam to enroll in the program.
- Students may enter this program during Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters and attend classes on a part-time or full-time basis, however, some courses may only be offered once a year. Students may enter the program Core courses in Winter Quarter.
- To be eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination upon graduation, candidates must have a high school diploma or a GED.
Prerequisite Courses May Be Required
Prerequisite courses in the structure and function of the human body, basic medical terminology, computers skills, and CPR for Healthcare Professionals may be required for admission to some programs. Please consult the individual program planning sheets or an adviser for more information.
Immunizations
Pharmacies require immunizations for all personnel who interface with patients. Students participating in practicum experiences require the same immunizations. The immunization cost is the responsibility of the student. Immunizations must be completed before registering for certain courses or applying for a practicum. The following are required for participation in most Health Care programs – students will be advised which immunizations (if any) are required for their particular program:
- Negative TB test or chest X-ray (1 every 12 months)
- Tetanus/diphtheria vaccination (within last 10 years)
- 2 MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccination or positive titer
- Hepatitis B vaccination (series of 3 immunizations)
Additional immunizations may be required if recommended by instructor or required by practicum placement:
- Flu Vaccine
- Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap)
- Varicella Vaccine
Background Check and Drug Screening
All students must pass a multi-state, multi-zip code criminal back ground check as well as a drug/illegal substance screening. This requirement is based on medical industry standards and Washington State laws protecting vulnerable populations (RCW 43.43.880 and 43.43.842). Drug screens and background checks are required by clinical agencies where students complete their practicum experience. Students should be aware that certain gross misdemeanors and felonies may disqualify them from participating in practicums and unable to complete their certificate or degree program. Future employment opportunities in the health care field may also be affected. Students will complete the background check and drug screening process when enrolled in AHE 103. Students who are unable to pass these screenings will be removed from the program.
Practicum Experiences
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program includes a required practicum experience. Practicum’s are at inpatient and community pharmacy, which may involve travel to various regions of Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish, and Island counties. All students accepted into the practicum experience must have reliable transportation. All experiences will be under the supervision of personnel at the pharmacy. Students will not be allowed to choose their practicum site. The department chair selects the facilities used for practicum sites and places qualified students. Each student is evaluated for Practicum readiness according to the Allied Health Student Handbook guidelines (Student Evaluation section).
View Allied Health Education Practicum Requirement for more information