Allied Health
Pharmacy Technicians assist Pharmacists with day-to-day operations so that Pharmacists can spend the time they need to provide quality counseling and care to their patients.
Pharmacy Technician A.A.S.
Associate of Applied ScienceÂ
61 Credit Hours
As pharmacies expand patient care services, the role of and need for pharmacy technicians will also expand. Pharmacy Technicians are highly skilled individuals who play a critical role in pharmacies. They assist Pharmacists with day-to-day operations so that Pharmacists can spend the time they need to provide quality counseling and care to their patients.
Pharmacy technicians who work in retail or mail-order pharmacies have varying responsibilities, depending on state rules and regulations. Technicians receive written prescriptions or requests for prescription refills from patients. They also may receive prescriptions sent electronically from the doctor’s office. To prepare the prescription, technicians must retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure and sometimes mix the medication. Technicians may establish and maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
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In hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, technicians have added responsibilities. They read patient charts and prepare and deliver the medicine to patients. The pharmacist must check the order before it is delivered to the patient. The technician then copies the information about the prescribed medication onto the patient’s profile.
Many states require licensure in order to perform pharmacy technician work. The West Virginia Board of Pharmacy currently requires licensure of all pharmacy technicians. Upon completion of the PHT program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national board examination. For more information about West Virginia requirements and the national certification exam, visit www.wvbop.com and www.ptcb.org. Currently, the PTCE pass rate for program graduates is 53%.
As pharmacies expand patient care services, the role of and need for pharmacy technicians will also expand. Pharmacy Technicians are highly skilled individuals who play a critical role in pharmacies. They assist Pharmacists with day-to-day operations so that Pharmacists can spend the time they need to provide quality counseling and care to their patients.
Pharmacy technicians who work in retail or mail-order pharmacies have varying responsibilities, depending on state rules and regulations. Technicians receive written prescriptions or requests for prescription refills from patients. They also may receive prescriptions sent electronically from the doctor’s office. To prepare the prescription, technicians must retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure and sometimes mix the medication. Technicians may establish and maintain patient profiles, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
—–
In hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, technicians have added responsibilities. They read patient charts and prepare and deliver the medicine to patients. The pharmacist must check the order before it is delivered to the patient. The technician then copies the information about the prescribed medication onto the patient’s profile.
Many states require licensure in order to perform pharmacy technician work. The West Virginia Board of Pharmacy currently requires licensure of all pharmacy technicians. Upon completion of the PHT program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national board examination. For more information about West Virginia requirements and the national certification exam, visit www.wvbop.com and www.ptcb.org.
Currently, the PTCE pass rate for program graduates is 53%.
Individuals who complete the courses listed below will receive a Certificate of Successful Completion from Mountwest Community & Technical College and will be eligible for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) issued by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
The college adheres to an open admission policy which means applications with a high school diploma or GED are eligible for admission. Applicants with neither a high school diploma nor GED may be admitted on a conditional basis.
Pharmacy technician students will learn to verify that information on the prescription is complete and accurate, to prepare a prescription, and to retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure, and sometimes mix medications. Successful completion of the PhT program will include a clinical internship at an affiliated health-care and retail facility.
Our program uses PioneerRx, the best pharmacy software, so our students can apply the knowledge and methods they learn in the classroom to a simulated pharmacy environment. For more information, visit pioneerrx.com. See what pharmacists around the nation are saying about PioneerRx at Pharmacy Software Reviews.
    (1) Demonstrate ethical conduct in all job-related activities.
    (2) Present an image appropriate for the profession of pharmacy in appearance and behavior.
    (3) Communicate clearly when speaking and in writing.
    (4) Demonstrate a respectful attitude when interacting with diverse patient populations.
     (5) Apply self-management skills, including time management, stress management, and adapting to change.
   (6) Apply interpersonal skills, including negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and teamwork.
   (7) Apply critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation to solve problems.
   Foundational Professional Knowledge and Skills
   (8) Demonstrate understanding of healthcare occupations and the health care delivery systemm.
   (9) Demonstrate understanding of wellness promotion and disease prevention concepts, such as use of health screenings; health practices and environmental factors that impact health; and adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and legal and illegal drugs.
   (10) Demonstrate commitment to excellence in the pharmacy profession and to continuing education and training.
   (11) Demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role, including anatomy/physiology and pharmacology.
   (12) Perform mathematical calculations essential to the duties of pharmacy technicians in a variety of contemporary settings.
   (13) Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy technician’s role in the medication-use process.
   (14) Demonstrate understanding of major trends, issues, goals, and initiatives taking place in the pharmacy profession.
   (15) Demonstrate understanding of non-traditional roles of pharmacy technicians.
   (16) Identify and describe emerging therapies.
   (17) Demonstrate understanding of the preparation and process for sterile and non-sterile compounding.
(18) Assist pharmacists in collecting, organizing, and recording demographic and clinical information for direct patient care and medication-use review.
   (19) Receive and screen prescriptions/medication orders for completeness, accuracy, and authenticity.
   (20) Assist pharmacists in the identification of patients who desire/require counseling to optimize the use of medications, equipment, and devices.
   (21) Prepare non-patient-specific medications for distribution (e.g., batch, stock medications).
   (22) Distribute medications in a manner that follows specified procedures.
   (23) Practice effective infection control procedures, including preventing transmission of blood borne and airborne diseases.
   (24) Assist pharmacists in preparing, storing, and distributing medication products requiring special handling and documentation [(e.g., controlled substances, immunizations, chemotherapy, investigational drugs, drugs with mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)].
   (25) Assist pharmacists in the monitoring of medication therapy.
   (26) Prepare patient-specific medications for distribution.
   (27) Maintain pharmacy facilities and equipment, including automated dispensing equipment.
   (28) Use material safety data sheets (MSDS) to identify, handle, and safely dispose of hazardous materials.
   (29) Prepare medications requiring compounding of sterile products (if selected).
   (30) Prepare medications requiring compounding of non-sterile products (if selected).
   (31) Prepare medications requiring compounding of chemotherapy/hazardous products (if selected).
   Procurement, Billing, Reimbursement and Inventory Management
   (32) Initiate, verify, and assist in the adjudication of billing for pharmacy services and goods, and collect payment for these services.
   (33) Apply accepted procedures in purchasing pharmaceuticals, devices, and supplies
   (34) Apply accepted procedures in inventory control of medications, equipment, and devices.
   (35) Explain pharmacy reimbursement plans for covering pharmacy services.
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   (36) Apply patient- and medication-safety practices in all aspects of the pharmacy technician’s roles.
   (37) Verify measurements, preparation, and/or packaging of medications produced by other healthcare professionals (e.g., tech-check-tech).
   (38) Explain pharmacists’ roles when they are responding to emergency situations and how pharmacy technicians can assist pharmacists by being certified as a Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider.
   (39) Demonstrate skills required for effective emergency preparedness.
   (40) Assist pharmacists in medication reconciliation.
   (41) Assist pharmacists in medication therapy management.
Technology and Informatics
   (42) Describe the use of current technology in the healthcare environment to ensure the safety and accuracy of medication dispensing
   Regulatory Issues
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   (43) Compare and contrast the roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in ensuring pharmacy department compliance with professional standards and relevant legal, regulatory, formulary, contractual, and safety requirements.
   (44) Maintain confidentiality of patient information.
Quality Assurance
   (45) Apply quality assurance practices to pharmaceuticals, durable and non-durable medical equipment, devices, and supplies.
   (46) Explain procedures and communication channels to use in the event of a product recall or shortage, a medication error, or identification of another problem.
