A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist with the day-to-day activities in the pharmacy. Under the direction of a pharmacist, the pharmacy technician performs pharmacy-related functions with the goal of optimizing patients' pharmaceutical care and department operations. Pharmacy technician duties include, but need not be limited to: maintaining patient records; setting up packaging and labeling of medication dosages; filling and dispensing routine orders for stock supplies and patient care areas; maintaining inventory of drug supplies and preparing parenteral admixtures. Other duties may include dispensing, pricing, inventory control, typing, records maintenance, cash register work and operation of computer terminals and pharmacy automation devices. The program is designed to train the pharmacy technician to function in the pharmacy departments of hospitals or other institutions, clinics, retail stores, and managed care organizations. Graduates will be prepared to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, recognized by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy for advanced registration and duties, and will hold a college degree that will contribute to professional advancement.
There will be no new students accepted in the program for Academic year 2023-2024. Current students should reach out to an academic counselor to create an academic plan to complete their remaining pharmacy technology courses by the end of Fall 2024 semester.
Program contact: Learn more
This degree program contains one or more embedded certificates which will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the embedded certificate(s), please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.
Program Admission Requirements
Application may be submitted to the Health Careers Enrollment Center after meeting the following requirements:
- High School Diploma/GED
- GPA required: 2.00 admissions requirements; 2.00 overall.
- Eligibility for MATH-1190 Algebraic and Quantitative Reasoning or higher
- Complete the following courses with a grade of "C" or higher:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3-8 | |
| Introduction to Biological Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry and Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| Honors College Composition I | ||
Other Information
- Science and math courses must have been completed within the past seven years at the time of admission to the program and may be repeated only once to improve a grade.
- Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all PHM courses for graduation.
- Criminal background check required.
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Assist the pharmacist in the preparation, dispensing, and consulting activities of pharmacy practice.
- Apply principles of quality to daily pharmacy practice as it relates to effectiveness, accuracy, and compliance with established legal, professional and organizational standards while striving for continued personal development.
- Use negotiation, verbal and written communication to meet the needs of diverse clients and function effectively as a member of the health care team.
- Apply the principles of ethical and caring behavior in health care to all pharmacy practice settings while balancing obligations to one’s self, relationships and work.
- Recognize and explain the value of membership in professional organizations, certification, and on-going education as a basis for maintaining a strong work ethic and fostering a positive image for the practice of pharmacy.
- Sit for Pharmacy Technician Certification exam.
Suggested Semester Sequence
| Program Admissions Requirements Semester | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-1100 | Introduction to Biological Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| Honors College Composition I | ||
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| First Semester | ||
| BIO-1050 | Human Biology 2 | 3 |
| BIO-105L | Human Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| PHM-1300 | Introduction to Pharmacy Practice 3 | 3 |
| PHM-1350 | Pharmacy Practice I | 3 |
| PHM-1450 | Pharmacology and Therapeutic Principles I | 3 |
| PHM-1751 | Medication Calculations for Sterile Preparations | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHM-1360 | Pharmacy Practice II | 3 |
| PHM-1460 | Pharmacology and Therapeutic Principles II | 3 |
| PHM-1760 | Calculations for Compounding and Dispensing | 1 |
| PHM-1860 | Pharmacy Technology Practicum I | 3 |
| PHM-2080 | Pharmacy Technician Examination Review | 1 |
| MATH-1190 | Algebraic and Quantitative Reasoning 4 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| MA-1020 | Medical Terminology I | 3 |
| PHM-2701 | Current Topics in Pharmacy Practice | 4 |
| PHM-2860 | Pharmacy Technology Practicum II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Microbiology | ||
| Medicinal Plants Chemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Applications | ||
| Honors Computer Applications | ||
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| HLTH-1100 | Personal Health Education | 3 |
| PHM-2870 | Pharmacy Technology Practicum III | 3 |
| Communications/Mathematics/Natural Sciences requirement | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Bioethics | ||
| Honors Bioethics | ||
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 62-63 | |
- 1
CHEM-1010 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM-1020 Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry together will be accepted in place of BIO-1100 Introduction to Biological Chemistry.
- 2
BIO-2331 Anatomy and Physiology I will be accepted in place of BIO-1050/105L.
- 3
Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all PHM courses for graduation.
- 4
MATH-1240 Contemporary Mathematics taken prior to Fall 2024 will be accepted to meet math requirement for this program.
MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement. These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016. Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.