The Basic Certificate option prepares students for entry-level employment as pharmacy technicians in the retail pharmacy sector.By completing the Basic Certificate option, students will meet the minimum academic training requirements for licensing as specified by the California State Board of Pharmacy.
Students who intend to complete only the Basic Certificate option will be placed for a minimum of 80 hours of externship in an outpatient (drug store or ambulatory care clinic) pharmacy site to gain workplace experience. Background checks, health screenings, and/ or drug testing will be required prior to externship placement.Any required investigations are done at the student’s expense.In addition, completion of a Communication Studies class (Communication Studies 097 or 101 or 101H, or 102) is a pre-requisite for externship.
The Basic Certificate option is not accredited by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP).Students who earn the Basic Certificate and then continue through the Advanced Certificate will be designated as having completed an ASHP-accredited program.
Students must complete each required course with a grade of "C" or better (Externship with a grade of "P") to qualify for the Basic Certificate.
All courses are required to be completed within a 3-year period to be eligible for Pharmacy Technology program enrollment and certificate/ degree.
Learning Outcome(s):
- Students will be prepared for pharmacy job interviews.
Students will successfully complete the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam and license application process in a timely manner.
Required Courses:
PHAR 048 | Introduction to Pharmacy Technology | 2 |
PHAR 051 | Body Systems I | 3.5 |
PHAR 052 | Body Systems II | 3.5 |
PHAR 054A | Beginning Pharmacy Calculations | 1 |
PHAR 054B | Advanced Pharmacy Calculations | 1 |
PHAR 056 | Pharmacy Operations | 4.5 |
PHAR 072A | Pharmacy Technology Externship Outpatient | 0.5-1.5 |
CMST 101 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
— or — |
CMST 102 | Public Speaking | 3 |
— or — |
CMST 097 | American English Conversational Skills | 3 |
— or — |
CMST 101H | Honors Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
Recommended electives: |
BIOL 139 | Health Microbiology | 4 |
BA 038 | Telephone Techniques | 0.5 |
BA 110 | Computer Keyboarding Skills | 1-2 |
BA 115 | Computer Keyboarding Speed and Accuracy Development | 1-2 |
CHEM 109 | Chemistry in the Community | 4 |
CHEM 119 | Fundamentals - General and Organic | 5 |
CMPR 100 | The Computer and Society | 3 |
PHAR 056L | Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab | 0.5 |
— or — |
PHAR 072L-1 | Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab | 0.5-2 |
