Your Future Starts Here...
Pharmacy Technician
The Oulton College Pharmacy Technician Diploma Program prepares you for a dynamic career in the expanding field of pharmacy. It certainly is an exciting time to start your career as a Pharmacy Technician! Legislative recognition of the Pharmacy Technician as an integral member of the pharmacy team is leading to the emergence of new roles and responsibilities.
Our Pharmacy Technician Program is nationally accredited by the Canadian Council of Accreditation for Pharmacy Programs. Students within the Pharmacy Technician Program are taught to the highest of national educational standards, as set out by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). Graduates are eligible for direct entry into the national PEBC exams, enabling them to work anywhere in Canada as a registered Pharmacy Technician.
Our graduates are sought-after by many employers, such as community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and healthcare organizations. Most of our graduates find employment within a few months of graduation.
Our Pharmacy Technician Program is a one-year program that provides hands-on practical experience and training in:
- Sterile and non-sterile compounding techniques in our new laboratory facility.
- Community and hospital drug dispensing in our new dispensing lab using Kroll, a prescription dispensing software.
- Pharmaceutical mathematics to ensure the accuracy and safety of prescribed medication.
- Pharmacology and the use of medications to treat diseases and disorders.
- Anatomy and Physiology in order to understand the workings of the human body.
- Professional practice and communication techniques allowing for excellent patient care.
After completing 10 months of classroom, laboratory, and simulated community and hospital environments, students are ready for Community Pharmacy practice and Hospital Pharmacy practice. This Practicum allows students to perfect their patient centered care competencies.
If you enjoy learning about medications and how they can be used to enhance the health of patients, or if you enjoy working as a valued member of a professional Health Care team, then our Pharmacy Technician Program may be just the program for you.
Duration: October 2013 - November 2014
Practicum: 8 weeks
Career Choices
Pharmacy Technicians performs pharmacy related functions, generally working under the direct supervision of a licensed Pharmacist or other health professional. Job duties include dispensing prescription drugs and other medical devices to patients and instructing on their use. Sometimes, Pharmacy Technicians have administrative duties, such as reviewing prescription requests with doctor’s offices and insurance companies to ensure correct medications are provided and payment is received.
Our Pharmacy Technician grads work in a variety of locations.
- Retail Pharmacies
- Hospital Pharmacies
- Long-term Care Facilities
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plants
You Will Learn
- How to control the inventory in the Pharmacy
- How to enter prescriptions into the computer dispensing software
- How to check prescriptions
- Techniques of teaching patients how to use devices
- How to prepare medications for nursing home and hospital patients
- Pharmaceutical Mathematics
- Health Sciences
- Therapeutics
- Non-Sterile Compounding Techniques
- Hospital Pharmacy & Sterile Products
- Pharmacology
Course Descriptions
PHARMACEUTICAL MATHEMATICS
The student will review mathematical fundamentals and develop a working knowledge of the various system fundamentals or apothecary and imperial weights and measures encountered in the pharmacy which will enable the student to accurately prepare prescriptions. The student will become familiar with strength designations and will perform various dosage calculations and interpret drug orders.
KEYBOARDING
Keyboarding is a foundation skill required for effective computer usage. By use of an all-in-one self-paced keyboarding instruction program, the student will develop proper keyboarding techniques and mastery of the keyboard. Emphasis is placed on speed and accuracy. A typing speed of 40 WPM is required for the completion of this module.
EXEMPTION: Greater than 40 wpm during assessment testing
DRUG NAMES AND CLASSES
This course will take place throughout the program, enabling the student to become familiar with the brand name, the generic name the pronunciation and the drug classification of the top 400 drugs commonly used in Canada.
BASIC CONCEPTS IN PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacology is one of the most challenging subjects for those embarking on careers in pharmacy and the health sciences. In this introductory module, the student will be introduced to the history and practice of pharmacy and the historical and current role that pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry, and government play in the delivery of health care. The evolving role of the pharmacy technician will be examined and the student will be introduced to terminology related to the pharmacy profession. Also discussed will be Canadian drug regulation and approval along with drug classes, schedules and categories. Various dosage forms, including their advantages and disadvantages, along with methods of drug delivery and what happens after a drug has been administered will be presented. Knowledge o f the routes of administration, allows the student to comprehend how a particular drug reaches its target site.
INTRODUCTION TO MICROSOFT OFFICE
Emphasis in this module is placed on giving the student fundamental competence in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office 2007 software which, increasingly, is becoming the software of choice for most of today’s businesses. The student will also learn to use e-mail to communicate productively and the Internet as an effective business tool. Emphasis is placed upon learning the knowledge and skills required to enable individuals to perform efficiently and collaboratively as a member of the healthcare team.
APPLIED ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & TERMINOLOGY
This course is unique in offering the foundational knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy and physiology directed to pharmacy technicians. It consists of 3 main parts: Introduction to Terminology; Applied Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology of the Body Systems and Terminology of Special Populations. The identification of medical words is taught through word analysis (prefixes, root words and suffixes). As a complete review of pharmacy terminology, it covers general terminology, drug terminology, and discusses pathological conditions along with the medications used to treat them. Emphasis will be placed on the structure and function of the major body systems and the pathophysiology of common diseases and conditions associated with each system. The student will become familiar with clinical procedures, laboratory tests and abbreviations related to each system and other specialized areas of medicine. Completion of this course will allow the student to confidently communicate with other health care professionals and patients and will aid the student in their understanding of pharmacological concepts.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
A comprehensive, interdisciplinary perspective drawing upon core concepts of anatomy, physiology and pathology will be used in order to make drug therapy more understandable. The student will expand his/her previously learned core concepts in pharmacology via a disease and body system approach. The student will learn the therapeutic effects of prescription medications, non-prescription medications and alternative therapies commonly used in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the nervous, cardiovascular and urinary systems. Using the prototype approach to drug therapy, the student will learn the brand and generic names and classifications of common medications in Canada along with their mechanisms of action, major side-effects, contraindications, dosage forms and routes of administration.
NON-STERILE COMPOUNDING TECHNIQUES
In this module, the student will develop the complex skills and the professional demeanor necessary to take on the increasingly important role of compounding various pharmaceutical products to meet the specific needs of the patient. The student will learn to compound non-sterile products, including calculation of the correct amount of each ingredient and the use of the correct compounding equipment with the proper techniques. WHMIS protocols will also be learned. Practice will include compounding lotions, creams, ointments, solutions, suspensions, gels and capsules along with preparing other non-traditional compounds such as suppositories, lollipops, lip balms and gummi-bears. Proper and timely cleaning and maintenance of compounding equipment will also be stressed. Emphasis is placed on accuracy and the preparation of a pharmaceutically elegant product.
PHARMACEUTICAL MATHEMATICS II
Advanced calculations in IV, TPN and chemotherapy preparations along with pediatric dosing and preparing dilutions will be included in this module in order to prepare the student for employment in a hospital pharmacy. Accuracy is stressed throughout the course along with techniques to detect and reduce medication errors.
THE PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
Principles relating to the role of the pharmacy technician, professional manner and image, attitude , initiative, accountability, adapting t o change, accepting criticism, motivation, ethics, interpersonal relations, group dynamics, team building, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and other workplace issues are investigated. Through simulations, activities and role-playing of patient-technician and technician-healthcare team situations, the student will learn the knowledge and skills required to enable them to perform professionally and confidently as a member of the healthcare team.
RETAIL AND LONG-TERM CARE PHARMACY
The student will practice receiving, dispensing and releasing prescriptions through simu- lations, role-playing, and other techniques. Emphasis is placed on the correct dispensing techniques, including computer entry, measuring, labeling, packaging, product presentation, and prescription processing. The student will build his/her skills of receiving, dispensing and releasing prescriptions. The role of community and long-term care pharmacies, including the various equipment and devices used in these environments, will also be explored. Students will gain efficiencies, speed and accuracy in selecting and processing pharmaceutical products using drug interchangeability information, third-party and formulary restrictions and other resources. He/she will also learn inventory management o f medications, including narcotics and controlled drugs, along with various clerical functions.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS II
This continuation of pharmacology and therapeutics will cover the therapeutic effects of prescription medications, non-prescription medications and alternative therapies commonly used in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect various body systems such as the immune, respiratory, visual, auditory, gastrointestinal, reproductive and endocrine systems. Using the prototype approach to drug therapy, the students will learn the brand and generic names and classifications of common medications in Canada along with their mechanisms of action, major side-effects, contraindications, dosage forms and routes of administration.
HOSPITAL PHARMACY
The student will be introduced to the hospital environment including its structure, organization, and the role in health-care delivery. The roles of the hospital pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and other health care professionals will be discussed. The various drug-distribution systems used in hospitals will be presented along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. The student will be introduced to medication order processing as well as the role of a drug formulary in a hospital setting. Purchasing and inventory control and record-keeping requirements are also discussed.
STERILE PRODUCT PREPARATION
In both health care facilities and community pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians aseptically prepare sterile products. Students will be introduced to the basic principles of microbiology as they relate to the practice of pharmacy along with the concepts of sterility, aseptic technique, sterilization methods, infection control and incompatibilities. The student will gain practical experience in the correct preparation, measuring, computer entry, labeling and packaging of the sterile hospital prescription, including IV Admixtures, TPNs and ophthalmic preparations, according to appropriate standards of practice relating to the preparation of sterile products in the pharmacy. Emphasis is placed on accurate dispensing techniques, including methods of checking work for accuracy, while also ensuring sterility of the product.
COMMUNICATION & CUSTOMER CARE
The student will develop good verbal and written communication skills while caring for the customer. The communication process, types and methods of communication, and barriers to communication will be discussed. Caring for customers and patients and maintaining confidentiality will be emphasized. Verbal communication will be enhanced through effective use of the telephone and simulating patient-technician/technician- healthcare situations. Throughout the course, the student will become familiar with the operation of Microsoft’s Office 2007 software as a means of written communication, will use e-mail to communicate productively, and will use reputable Internet sources for research.
EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION
This module will prepare the student for employment. The student will produce an effective and professional resume, cover letter and thank you letter in preparation for gaining employment as a Pharmacy Technician. The student will gain an understanding of current hiring practices as well as effective interview and job search techniques while participating in role-playing exercises to further his/her skills. A mock employment interview will be conducted during the course in order to prepare the student for gaining employment.
CLINICAL RETAIL PHARMACY EXPERIENCE (CRPE)
At the completion of the program, the student will participate in a four-week retail pharmacy experience in order to continue his/her training as a pharmacy technician. Specific objectives must be met in order to complete this module successfully. Successful completion of this module is mandatory for graduation from the program.
CLINICAL HOSPITAL PHARMACY EXPERIENCE (CHPE)
At the completion of the program, the student will participate in a four-week hospital pharmacy experience in order to continue his/her training as a pharmacy technician. Specific objectives must be met in order to complete this module successfully. Successful completion of this module is mandatory for graduation from the program.
SELF – DIRECTED STUDIES
This module is used by the student who may want to obtain one-on-one instruction with an instructor. This optional module is completed on Friday mornings during the entire length of the program. The student does not receive a mark for this module as it is optional.
Admission Requirements
- Grade 12 Diploma, Adult Diploma or GED
- Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry OR Biology with a minimum average of 60%
- Grade 11 or 12 Math (Mature students qualify to take the Pre-Admissions Math test)
- Meeting with an Admissions Advisor
- Acceptance by the Admissions Committee
- Completion of the Pre-Enrollment Package
- Geographical quotas may be considered
