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.
- NOTE: Refer to Santa Ana College's Catalog for updated information for each academic year.
To be successful, entering students should have the following:
Entry-level classes
The entry-level classes in the Pharmacy Technology program consist of the following:
- PHAR 048: Introduction to Pharmacy Technology (2.5 units)
- PHAR 055: Pharmacy Calculations ( 2 units)
- PHAR 051: Body Systems I (3.5 units)
- PHAR 052: Body Systems II (3.5 units)
- PHAR 056: Pharmacy Operations (4.5 units) * Prerequisites PHAR 048 and PHAR 051 or PHAR 052 with "C" or better/ Typing proficiency 30 wpm, 95% accuracy.
- PHAR 072A: Pharmacy Technology Externship Outpatient (2 units)
*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 three lab classes:
- PHAR 056: Pharmacy Operations / PHAR 056L: Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- PHAR 057: Inpatient Pharmacy Services/ PHAR 057L: Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- PHAR 060: Sterile Products / PHAR 060L: Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- Before enrolling in any of the lab classes, you must have successfully completed the entry-level classes, including PHAR 048, 055, and either 051 or 052. In addition, you must meet the TYPING prerequisite of 30 WPM 95% accuracy.
- In addition, 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, John Ross, at (714) 564-6622 to schedule a challenge exam.
EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING: Externships
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 portion of your training, you must successfully complete the related lab class:
- PHAR 056 prior to PHAR 072A: Pharmacy Technology Externship Outpatient rotation.
- PHAR 056 & PHAR 057 prior to PHAR 072B Pharmacy Technology Externship Inpatient rotation.
- PHAR 060 prior to PHAR 072C Pharmacy Technology Externship Sterile Products rotation.
Other Prerequisites
- 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, drug testing, criminal background checks 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 200 drugs selected by the Pharmacy Technology Advisory Committee.
- Note: If there is a time-lapse or gap of 1 year from the semester of the lab’s class completion (for example Spring 2023 to Spring 2024 would be considered 1 year gap), a student must enroll in Skills Lab class prior to externship placement. The number if unit(s) required, and type of skills lab assignments will be determined by the department (instructor and chair). The student must pass competency testings if deemed necessary by the instructor and department chair. If the student fails the competency testing, the student will NOT be placed on externship, permanently.
