BEGINNING THE PROGRAM: Entry-Level Classes
To enroll in the Pharmacy Technology
program, students are not required to take any entrance examinations
or complete any prerequisite courses.
To be successful, entering students should have the following:
-
a good command of spoken English
-
good listening skills
-
the ability to follow verbal and written
directions
-
good basic math skills
-
the ability to use a basic function
calculator
-
good reading and study skills
SAC offers a variety of English as a Second
Language classes, including a Pronunciation Skills Lab, for students
needing additional language development.
Students who need
additional preparation in basic mathematics should enroll in Math N05 or
N06.
The SAC Success Center can assist students with listening and other
basic skills. The college also offers many workshops to assist
students.
The entry-level classes
in the Pharmacy Technology program consist of the following:
*Note: Either Body Systems I or
Body Systems II may be taken first.
Body Systems I is offered in the
Spring (and sometimes during the summer). Body Systems II is
offered in the Fall only.
There are no specific English or math
prerequisites for any of the entry-level classes. However, all of
these classes have a strong verbal component. Quiz and exam
questions are often given verbally, even in the Pharmacy Calculations
class.
APPLICATION LEVEL: Lab Classes
Courses in the middle level of the Pharmacy
Technology program allow you to apply information from the
entry-level classes to pharmacy situations in a controlled lab setting.
This level includes two lab classes:
Before enrolling in any of the lab classes, you must have
successfully completed the entry-level classes, including PHAR 048, 054, and either 051
or 052. In addition,
you must meet the TYPING prerequisite.
Prerequisites for the entry-level classes may be satisfied by
earning a score of 75% or higher on the challenge
exams.
Challenge exams are designed for students who have previous knowledge from
coursework or work experience.
Contact the department chairperson, Dr.
Gail Askew, at (714) 564-6622 to schedule a challenge exam.
EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING:
Externship
Experiential training, or externship,
allows you to apply the information you have learned and the technical
skills you have developed in an actual pharmacy setting. Before beginning
the Externship (PHAR 072)
portion of your training, you must successfully complete the related lab
class:
PHAR 056 prior to the
outpatient rotation
PHAR 057 prior to the
inpatient rotation
PHAR 060 prior to the
sterile products rotation
You must also satisfy the SPEECH COMMUNICATIONS
prerequisite.
Prior to externship placement, every student
must demonstrate that he or she is free from tuberculosis (TB). TB clearance
is documented by either a negative skin test or a chest X-ray that shows
no active disease.
TB clearance must be re-submitted on an annual basis for continuing
externs.
Some pharmacy sites may require
additional health screenings or background checks prior to externship
placement. TB clearance and any additional screenings are
completed at the student's expense.
Students must also score a minimum of 95%
on the TRADE-GENERIC EQUIVALENTS test before
externship placement. The
Trade-Generic Equivalents test is a matching test of 100 drugs selected by
the Pharmacy Technology Advisory Committee.
|
