Pharmacy Technician
Technical Diploma
31-536-1
Degree Completion Time: 2 terms

2008-2009 Program Sheet
watch program video 

About the Career
If you're ill or injured, you have access to an enormous variety of therapeutic medications, and you trust your pharmacy to correctly interpret and fill your prescriptions. Pharmacy technicians contribute to our safety by assisting pharmacists in a variety of technical tasks. If you're attentive to detail, organized, a good communicator, and like math, science, and working with people, a career as a pharmacy technician may be your prescription for success.

About Shared Programs
LTC offers its Pharmacy Technician program in cooperation with technical colleges across the state. As a pharmacy technician student, you'll:
•Attend live, interactive TV classes sent from LTC to your local technical college.
•Receive laboratory training in local pharmacies.
•Participate in real-world, hands-on training during a 4-week clinical program.
•Take general studies classes at your local technical college

Special Notes
•CPR professional certification (one- and two-person, adult, child and infant) is required prior to starting clinicals. See program Functional Abilities.
•To meet the competencies of most participating colleges, the keyboarding competency has now been set at 25 words per minute with 2 errors or less. This applies to the first semester Keyboarding course.
•Students with a drug related felony will not be admitted to this program

Career Outlook
According to the Wisconsin Department of Aging, the population of American citizens who are over 65 years old is estimated to double from 35 million today to approximately 70 million in the year 2030. This population places a huge demand on pharmacies for prescription medications, whether in a retail or hospital setting.
The job outlook for trained pharmacy technicians looks positive well into the next decade. Job opportunities are expected to be good, especially for technicians with formal training or previous experience.

Potential Positions
A wide variety of positions are available in retail and hospital pharmacies, pharmaceutical laboratory settings and the business sector pharmaceuticals. A few job titles include:
Chemical Processing Technician
Chemotherapy Technician
IV Technician for Home Health Care
Pharmaceutical Technician in a hospital
Pharmacy Clerk
Pharmacy Technician in a community setting
Pharmacy Wholesalers
Customer Service at a Pharmacy Benefits Manager

Instructors
Dave Brown
Rhonda Schultz (Instructional Assistant)

Pharmacy Technician Program Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
May 15, 2008
October 4, 2007
May 17, 2007
October 5, 2006
May 9, 2006

Approximate Costs
•$97.05 per credit (resident)
•$594.25 per credit (out-of-state resident)
•Online class fee is $10 per credit
•Other fees vary by program (books, supplies, materials, tools, uniforms, health-related exams, etc)

FAQ
What are the approximate program costs?
See the LTC Program Costs Brochure.

What exactly is a pharmacy technician?
Pharmacy technicians assist and support licensed pharmacists in providing health care and medications to patients. Pharmacy technicians must have a broad knowledge of pharmacy practice and be skilled in ordering, stocking, packaging, and preparing medication.

What kind of work environment does a pharmacy offer?
Pharmacy technicians perform many of the same technical duties as pharmacists; however, the technician's work must be checked by a pharmacist before medication can be dispensed to a patient. Pharmacy technicians must be accurate and attentive to details, have good communication and interpersonal skills, and work well in stressful situations.

What kind of work schedule does a pharmacy technician generally have?
Pharmacy technicians work the same hours and schedules as pharmacists. Non-traditional work schedules (evenings and weekends) are possible as hospital pharmacies are often open and staffed 24 hours a day.

What are the benefits of completing the pharmacy technician training program?
Pharmacy technician training programs include classroom and laboratory work, as well as clinical rotations where students receive hands-on training and exposure to various pharmacy settings. After completing the program, you'll be prepared to take the certification exam and will have an expert understanding of the integral workings of the pharmacy setting.

What if I have a conviction in my background?
Applicants with a conviction of any kind, including misdemeanors or felonies, may need special approval from a clinical site to be admitted to the program. Applicants who have been convicted of a drug related felony will not be admitted to the program.

Can I receive financial aid?
On average, more than 90 percent of LTC students who apply for financial aid receive some kind of assistance. In addition, thousands of scholarship dollars are awarded each year by the LTC Foundation, Inc. For more info, visit our financial aid page.

How do I apply for admission?
Request and complete a student application and mail to LTC at 1290 North Avenue, Cleveland, WI 53015 or print out the application. Or you can apply online.

Testimonials
“I've always been drawn to the health profession. I believe the pharmacy technician field is on a great trend for wages and opportunities. I was able to attend classes at a local hospital and this allowed me to make connections for future job opportunities. LTC's Pharmacy Technician program gave me the underlying knowledge I would not have received with just on-the-job training. It has prepared me completely to pass the national certification exam.”
–Phyllis Ann Rieder

Want more information?
•Submit your questions online.
•Email info@gotoltc.edu
•Call 1.888.GO TO LTC, Ext. 1109

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