This course plan, its lessons and its assessments has not yet been verified by a licensed pharmacist or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it to make decisions about any patient or medication. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.
VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.
Pharmacy Technician
8 courses · 1,350 clock hours · 6–9 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.
Universal Core: Safety, Pharmacy Math, Communication & Career
Shared first block, tailored for pharmacy: OSHA 10 General Industry, BLS CPR/AED with anaphylaxis and naloxone response, pharmacy math and the metric system, reading package inserts and SOPs, pharmacy software and HIPAA, and state technician registration.
Outcomes- Hold an OSHA 10 card and current CPR/AED certification
- Convert, measure and estimate with trade units, fractions, percentages and basic geometry
- Read a specification, code excerpt or manual and write a clear technical report
- Use email, spreadsheets, and the program's digital job-management tools
- Present a resume, portfolio and interview answers to an employer panel
Course text
Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the skills lab and clinical site unsupervised.
How the course runs. 7 blocks: OSHA 10: introduction, rights, hazard recognition; First aid, CPR and AED; Applied trade math I: units, fractions, conversion; Applied trade math II: geometry, ratio and estimating; Technical reading and writing; Digital literacy for the trade; Career readiness: resume, portfolio, interview.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OSHA 10 General Industry: rights, hazards, bloodborne pathogens | 10 | theory | Complete the OSHA 10-hour General Industry outreach course with the healthcare hazards a pharmacy meets: sharps, bloodborne pathogens, chemical exposure, ergonomics. |
| OSHA outreach materials; SDS binder | OSHA 10 card issued |
| 2 | BLS for healthcare providers: CPR, AED and first aid | 8 | practice | Respond to a collapse, choking, bleeding or an allergic reaction in the pharmacy until EMS arrives, including epinephrine auto-injector use. |
| Manikins, AED trainer, auto-injector and naloxone trainers | AHA BLS card issued |
| 3 | Pharmacy math I: fractions, decimals, percent and rounding | 20 | theory | Work fractions, decimals and percentages without a calculator slip, and round and write numbers the safe way (leading zero, no trailing zero). |
| Pharmacy math workbook, basic calculator | Quiz ≥ 85% |
| 4 | Pharmacy math II: metric system, household measures and conversions | 20 | theory | Convert within the metric system (kg-g-mg-mcg, L-mL) and between household and metric measures used on labels and in counselling. |
| Oral syringes, measuring cups, conversion chart | Quiz ≥ 85% |
| 5 | Technical reading: package inserts, monographs and SOPs | 30 | theory | Find indications, dosing, storage and warnings in a package insert and a drug monograph, and follow a written standard operating procedure exactly. |
| Package inserts, drug-information references, SOP templates | Monograph summary and SOP accepted |
| 6 | Digital literacy: pharmacy software, e-prescribing and HIPAA-safe computing | 30 | lab | Navigate a pharmacy management system, read an electronic prescription, and protect patient information on screen, on paper and on the phone. |
| Pharmacy software training environment | Lab checklist complete; HIPAA quiz ≥ 90% |
| 7 | Career readiness: registration, background check, resume and interview | 30 | practice | Prepare the state technician registration and the paperwork employers require, and interview for a pharmacy position. |
| Board application forms, resume template | Registration packet and resume complete |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Safety and Compliance Written Exam | Written exam | 25% | Score 75% or higher on a 40-item multiple-choice exam covering OSHA General Industry hazards, bloodborne pathogen standards, HIPAA rules, BLS/CPR steps, naloxone administration protocol, and anaphylaxis response as applied to a pharmacy workplace setting. | Students complete a proctored written exam that tests their knowledge of pharmacy workplace safety regulations, infection control, emergency response procedures, and patient privacy requirements; each item is scored correct or incorrect and a percentage score is calculated. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Pharmacy math and measurement exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% | Timed exam: fractions, decimals, percent, metric and household conversions. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Pharmacy Math and Package Insert Technical Report | Project | 25% | Achieve 80% or higher on a scoring rubric that awards points for calculation accuracy, correct use of metric and household unit conversions, accurate interpretation of labeling information, and clear professional writing with no critical errors in dose or unit. | Students solve a set of dosage calculation problems drawn from real drug label scenarios and write a short structured report explaining how they read a package insert or SOP to verify a correct dose, unit, and route; the report is graded using a rubric that evaluates mathematical accuracy, proper use of pharmacy terminology, and logical organization. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Pharmacy Technician Role-Play Interview Panel | Oral / panel | 25% | Score 21 of 28 points (75%) on the panel rubric, with no score of zero on the patient-safety or scope-of-practice items, which are mandatory competencies. | Students participate in a structured mock interview conducted by at least two evaluators playing the roles of a hiring pharmacist and a pharmacy manager, responding to scenario-based questions about state registration requirements, HIPAA obligations, scope of practice boundaries, and professional communication; responses are scored on a 4-point rubric per item covering accuracy, clarity, professionalism, and patient-safety awareness. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
Pharmacology and the Top 200 Drugs
Drug names, classes, indications, side effects, interactions, storage and stability — the knowledge behind PTCE Domain 1 (Medications, 35% of the exam) and ExCPT Drugs and Drug Therapy.
Outcomes- Match brand and generic names and classes for the top 200 drugs
- State the main indication and key cautions for each major drug class
- Store and handle medications to protect stability, including refrigerated and light-sensitive products
- Recognise interactions, duplications, contraindications and allergies and route them to the pharmacist
- Use medical terminology accurately in the pharmacy
Course text
Drug names, classes, indications, side effects, interactions, storage and stability — the knowledge behind PTCE Domain 1 (Medications, 35% of the exam) and ExCPT Drugs and Drug Therapy.
How the course runs. 12 blocks: The technician in the pharmacy: roles, scope and the pharmacist check; Medical terminology and the body systems; Drug names: brand, generic and the stems that give away the class; Cardiovascular drugs; Endocrine drugs: diabetes, thyroid and steroids; Central nervous system and psychiatric drugs; Pain, opioids and overdose prevention; Anti-infectives: antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals; Respiratory, gastrointestinal and allergy drugs; Dosage forms, routes, stability and storage; Side effects, allergies, interactions and duplications; Top-200 drug mastery lab.
What competent looks like. Match brand and generic names and classes for the top 200 drugs. State the main indication and key cautions for each major drug class. Store and handle medications to protect stability, including refrigerated and light-sensitive products. Recognise interactions, duplications, contraindications and allergies and route them to the pharmacist. Use medical terminology accurately in the pharmacy.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The technician in the pharmacy: roles, scope and the pharmacist check | 15 | theory | Describe what technicians may and may not do in community and hospital pharmacy, and why every prescription passes a pharmacist verification. |
| State board technician rules, workflow diagrams | Scope quiz ≥ 80% |
| 2 | Medical terminology and the body systems | 15 | theory | Build and decode medical terms from roots, prefixes and suffixes, and connect each body system to the drug classes that act on it. |
| Terminology workbook, anatomy charts | Terminology quiz ≥ 80% |
| 3 | Drug names: brand, generic and the stems that give away the class | 15 | theory | Match brand to generic names and recognise classes from stems such as -olol, -pril, -sartan, -statin, -prazole and -mab. |
| Top-200 drug list, flashcards | Brand/generic quiz ≥ 80% |
| 4 | Cardiovascular drugs | 15 | theory | Name the major cardiovascular classes — ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers, diuretics, statins, antiplatelets and anticoagulants — with their indications and key cautions. |
| Drug references, class tables | Class quiz ≥ 80% |
| 5 | Endocrine drugs: diabetes, thyroid and steroids | 15 | theory | Distinguish rapid-, short-, intermediate- and long-acting insulins, oral and injectable diabetes drugs, thyroid replacement and corticosteroids, including storage of insulin and pens. |
| Insulin demo pens and vials, charts | Quiz ≥ 80% |
| 6 | Central nervous system and psychiatric drugs | 15 | theory | Classify antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, sleep aids and ADHD medicines, noting which are controlled substances. |
| Drug references | Quiz ≥ 80% |
| 7 | Pain, opioids and overdose prevention | 15 | theory | Recognise opioid and non-opioid analgesics, acetaminophen dose limits, NSAID cautions, and the role of naloxone. |
| Drug references, naloxone trainer | Quiz ≥ 80% |
| 8 | Anti-infectives: antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals | 15 | theory | Classify anti-infectives, explain why the full course matters, and flag common allergies such as penicillin and sulfa. |
| Drug references | Quiz ≥ 80% |
| 9 | Respiratory, gastrointestinal and allergy drugs | 15 | theory | Tell rescue inhalers from controller inhalers, and identify proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, antihistamines and common OTC products. |
| Placebo inhalers, spacers, OTC products | Quiz ≥ 80% |
| 10 | Dosage forms, routes, stability and storage | 15 | lab | Match dosage forms to routes, read storage conditions (room temperature, refrigerated 2–8 °C, frozen, protect from light) and handle drugs so they stay stable. |
| Dosage-form samples, data-logger thermometer | Storage practical: competent |
| 11 | Side effects, allergies, interactions and duplications | 15 | theory | Recognise common adverse effects, drug–drug and drug–disease interactions, contraindications and therapeutic duplications — and route every one to the pharmacist. |
| Pharmacy software training environment | Alert-triage practical: competent |
| 12 | Top-200 drug mastery lab | 18 | practice | Demonstrate brand, generic, class and main indication for the top 200 drugs, and pick the right product from the shelf. |
| Top-200 list, stocked training shelf | Top-200 exam ≥ 80% |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top-200 drug exam: brand, generic, class, indication | Written exam | 25% | 80% | Timed exam on the top 200 drugs. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Drug-knowledge practical: shelf pick, storage and DUR alert triage | Skills demonstration | 45% | Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults | Observed: pick the right product, store it correctly, and route interaction and duplication alerts to the pharmacist. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Pharmacology lab log | Log | 15% | Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance | Signed log of lab and case work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Storage and temperature-excursion audit | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — must pass | Audit of refrigerator logs and storage practice. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Pharmacy Calculations and Order Entry
Every calculation a technician performs — conversions, days supply, weight-based doses, concentrations, dilutions, alligation and IV rates — plus prescription entry, NDC and lot tracking, and third-party billing (PTCE Domain 4, Order Entry and Processing, 22.5%).
Outcomes- Solve pharmacy calculations accurately by ratio-proportion and dimensional analysis
- Calculate quantity and days' supply for every dosage form
- Read and translate prescriptions and sig codes, avoiding error-prone abbreviations
- Enter prescriptions and match NDC, lot and expiration without error
- Submit and resolve third-party claims
Course text
Every calculation a technician performs — conversions, days supply, weight-based doses, concentrations, dilutions, alligation and IV rates — plus prescription entry, NDC and lot tracking, and third-party billing (PTCE Domain 4, Order Entry and Processing, 22.5%).
How the course runs. 12 blocks: Safe numbers: rounding, leading zeros and dangerous abbreviations; Measurement systems and conversions; Ratio, proportion and dimensional analysis; Reading the prescription: parts, sig codes and abbreviations; Quantity and days-supply calculations; Weight-based and paediatric dosing; Concentrations: percent strength, ratio strength and mg/mL; Dilutions and alligation; IV flow rates and infusion times; Order entry: patient profile, NDC, lot and expiration; Third-party billing: claims, rejections and prior authorisation; Calculations competency lab.
What competent looks like. Solve pharmacy calculations accurately by ratio-proportion and dimensional analysis. Calculate quantity and days' supply for every dosage form. Read and translate prescriptions and sig codes, avoiding error-prone abbreviations. Enter prescriptions and match NDC, lot and expiration without error. Submit and resolve third-party claims.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safe numbers: rounding, leading zeros and dangerous abbreviations | 15 | theory | Write and read doses the safe way and recognise the ISMP list of error-prone abbreviations, symbols and dose designations. |
| ISMP error-prone abbreviation list | Quiz 100% on dangerous abbreviations |
| 2 | Measurement systems and conversions | 15 | theory | Convert accurately within metric units and between household and metric measures, including weight in pounds and kilograms. |
| Calculators, conversion charts | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 3 | Ratio, proportion and dimensional analysis | 15 | theory | Set up and solve dose problems by ratio-proportion and by dimensional analysis, checking units at every step. |
| Calculation workbook | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 4 | Reading the prescription: parts, sig codes and abbreviations | 15 | theory | Identify every required element of a prescription and translate sig codes into plain directions for the label. |
| Sample prescriptions, sig-code reference | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 5 | Quantity and days-supply calculations | 15 | theory | Calculate quantity to dispense and days' supply for tablets, liquids, inhalers, insulin, eye drops and topicals. |
| Product packages, calculators | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 6 | Weight-based and paediatric dosing | 15 | theory | Calculate mg/kg doses and check paediatric doses against a reference range, then hand the result to the pharmacist for verification. |
| Dosing references, calculators | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 7 | Concentrations: percent strength, ratio strength and mg/mL | 15 | theory | Convert between w/v, w/w and v/v percent, ratio strength and mg/mL, and calculate how much drug is in a given volume. |
| Calculation workbook | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 8 | Dilutions and alligation | 15 | theory | Solve stock-dilution (C1V1 = C2V2) and alligation problems for liquids and semisolids. |
| Calculation workbook | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 9 | IV flow rates and infusion times | 15 | theory | Calculate mL/hour, drops/minute from a drop factor, and infusion duration for IV orders. |
| IV tubing samples, calculators | Quiz ≥ 90% |
| 10 | Order entry: patient profile, NDC, lot and expiration | 15 | lab | Enter new and refill prescriptions into a patient profile, match the NDC to the product, and record lot numbers and expiration dates. |
| Pharmacy software training environment, stock bottles | Order-entry simulation: 20 prescriptions, zero errors |
| 11 | Third-party billing: claims, rejections and prior authorisation | 15 | lab | Submit a claim, read the response, resolve common rejections (refill too soon, not covered, prior authorisation required) and explain a copay. |
| Billing simulator, payer sheets | Billing simulation: competent |
| 12 | Calculations competency lab | 17 | practice | Pass a timed calculations exam covering every problem type in the course. |
| Calculation workbook, calculators | Calculations exam ≥ 90% |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy calculations exam | Written exam | 25% | 90% | Timed exam covering every calculation type in the course. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Order-entry and billing simulation | Skills demonstration | 45% | 20 prescriptions entered and billed with zero errors | Observed simulation in the training pharmacy system: profile, entry, NDC match, claim. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Calculations and entry log | Log | 15% | Complete, signed | Signed log of problem sets and simulations. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Dangerous-abbreviation and decimal audit | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — 100% required | Every label and entry checked against the ISMP list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Compounding: Non-Sterile, Sterile and Hazardous (USP <795>, <797>, <800>)
Non-sterile compounding, aseptic technique in the cleanroom, hazardous-drug handling and the records, cleaning and testing that keep patients safe (ExCPT Sterile and Non-Sterile Products; PTCE infection prevention and stability).
Outcomes- Prepare non-sterile preparations to a master formulation record with a correct beyond-use date
- Garb and pass gloved fingertip sampling and a media-fill test
- Prepare sterile admixtures with aseptic technique in a primary engineering control
- Handle hazardous drugs safely from receiving to spill response
- Clean, disinfect and document compounding areas to standard
Course text
Non-sterile compounding, aseptic technique in the cleanroom, hazardous-drug handling and the records, cleaning and testing that keep patients safe (ExCPT Sterile and Non-Sterile Products; PTCE infection prevention and stability).
How the course runs. 12 blocks: Why compounding is regulated: USP <795>, <797> and <800>; Non-sterile equipment and technique; Non-sterile preparations: solutions, suspensions, ointments, creams, capsules; Master formulation and compounding records, labels and documentation; Reconstitution, unit dose and repackaging; Cleanroom design and air quality; Hand hygiene and garbing; Aseptic technique; Compounded sterile preparations and beyond-use dates; Hazardous drugs and USP <800>; Cleaning, disinfection and environmental monitoring; Compounding competency lab.
What competent looks like. Prepare non-sterile preparations to a master formulation record with a correct beyond-use date. Garb and pass gloved fingertip sampling and a media-fill test. Prepare sterile admixtures with aseptic technique in a primary engineering control. Handle hazardous drugs safely from receiving to spill response. Clean, disinfect and document compounding areas to standard.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Why compounding is regulated: USP <795>, <797> and <800> | 15 | theory | Explain the purpose of the three USP compounding chapters and the patient harm they are written to prevent, including the 2012 fungal-meningitis outbreak traced to a compounding pharmacy. |
| USP chapter summaries | Quiz ≥ 80% |
| 2 | Non-sterile equipment and technique | 15 | lab | Use a pharmacy balance, graduates, mortar and pestle, ointment slab and spatula correctly, including geometric dilution. |
| Electronic balance, graduates, mortar and pestle, slab | Technique checklist: competent |
| 3 | Non-sterile preparations: solutions, suspensions, ointments, creams, capsules | 15 | lab | Prepare the common non-sterile dosage forms to a master formulation record and assign a beyond-use date under USP <795>. |
| Ingredients, capsule machine, master formulation records | Product meets record; BUD correct |
| 4 | Master formulation and compounding records, labels and documentation | 15 | theory | Complete a master formulation record and a compounding record so another technician could repeat the preparation exactly. |
| Record templates | Records complete and accurate |
| 5 | Reconstitution, unit dose and repackaging | 15 | lab | Reconstitute oral antibiotics, repackage into unit-dose, and label with lot, expiration and beyond-use date. |
| Reconstitution products, unit-dose packaging | Practical: competent |
| 6 | Cleanroom design and air quality | 15 | theory | Describe ISO-classified areas (ISO 5 primary engineering control, ISO 7 buffer room, ISO 8 anteroom), air pressure and HEPA filtration. |
| Cleanroom diagrams, simulation suite | Quiz ≥ 80% |
| 7 | Hand hygiene and garbing | 15 | practice | Perform hand hygiene and garb in the correct order for sterile compounding, then pass gloved fingertip sampling. |
| Garb, sterile gloves, sampling plates | Garbing competency: zero growth on gloved fingertip samples |
| 8 | Aseptic technique | 15 | practice | Work in the primary engineering control without breaking first air: syringes, needles, vials, ampules with filter needles, and critical-site protection. |
| LAFW or BSC trainer, syringes, vials, ampules | Observed technique: competent |
| 9 | Compounded sterile preparations and beyond-use dates | 15 | lab | Prepare IV admixtures and assign beyond-use dates by the USP <797> category of the preparation. |
| IV bags, additives, labels | Admixture practical: competent |
| 10 | Hazardous drugs and USP <800> | 15 | theory | Handle hazardous drugs from receiving to disposal: the NIOSH list, protective equipment, chemotherapy gloves, containment devices and spill response. |
| Hazardous-drug PPE, spill kit | Spill drill: competent |
| 11 | Cleaning, disinfection and environmental monitoring | 15 | practice | Clean and disinfect the compounding areas in the right order with the right agents, and take environmental samples. |
| Cleaning agents, sampling plates, logs | Cleaning checklist: competent |
| 12 | Compounding competency lab | 17 | practice | Demonstrate a non-sterile preparation, a sterile admixture and a media-fill test under observation. |
| Full compounding suite | All three competent; media fill shows no growth |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compounding written exam: USP <795>, <797>, <800> | Written exam | 25% | 75% | Written exam on the three chapters, cleanroom design and beyond-use dates. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Compounding practical: non-sterile product, sterile admixture, media fill | Skills demonstration | 45% | Competent on all three; media fill shows no growth | Observed practical under USP conditions. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Compounding records and cleaning log | Log | 15% | Complete and accurate | Master formulation, compounding and cleaning records. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Garbing and gloved fingertip sampling | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — zero growth required | Garbing competency with gloved fingertip sampling. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Pharmacy Law, Safety and Quality
Federal and state law, controlled substances, REMS, recalls and supply-chain security (PTCE Domain 2, 18.75%), and high-alert drugs, error prevention and event reporting (PTCE Domain 3, 23.75%).
Outcomes- Apply federal and state pharmacy law to real cases
- Check, order, receive, count and document controlled substances correctly
- Carry out recalls, REMS requirements and pseudoephedrine limits
- Prevent errors with high-alert and look-alike/sound-alike medications
- Report errors and adverse events in a just culture and know when to call the pharmacist
Course text
Federal and state law, controlled substances, REMS, recalls and supply-chain security (PTCE Domain 2, 18.75%), and high-alert drugs, error prevention and event reporting (PTCE Domain 3, 23.75%).
How the course runs. 12 blocks: The federal framework: FDCA to HIPAA; State boards, registration and technician ratios; The Controlled Substances Act and DEA schedules; Controlled-substance prescriptions; Ordering, receiving, storing and counting controlled substances; Restricted drug programs and REMS; Recalls and drug-supply-chain security; High-alert and look-alike/sound-alike medications; Error prevention and the types of prescription errors; When to call the pharmacist; Reporting events: MedWatch, ISMP and a just culture; Infection prevention, waste and disposal; law and safety case lab.
What competent looks like. Apply federal and state pharmacy law to real cases. Check, order, receive, count and document controlled substances correctly. Carry out recalls, REMS requirements and pseudoephedrine limits. Prevent errors with high-alert and look-alike/sound-alike medications. Report errors and adverse events in a just culture and know when to call the pharmacist.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The federal framework: FDCA to HIPAA | 15 | theory | Summarise the federal laws that shape pharmacy practice: the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Durham-Humphrey (prescription vs OTC), Kefauver-Harris, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, OBRA 90 and HIPAA. |
| Law summaries | Quiz ≥ 75% |
| 2 | State boards, registration and technician ratios | 15 | theory | Explain how the state board of pharmacy regulates technicians — registration, licensure or certification, continuing education and pharmacist-to-technician ratios — using the school's state as the model. |
| State pharmacy act and rules | Quiz ≥ 75% |
| 3 | The Controlled Substances Act and DEA schedules | 15 | theory | Place drugs in DEA Schedules I–V and explain what each schedule means for prescribing, storing and dispensing. |
| DEA pharmacist manual excerpts | Quiz ≥ 75% |
| 4 | Controlled-substance prescriptions | 15 | theory | Check a controlled-substance prescription for required elements and apply refill, transfer, partial-fill and e-prescribing rules, and the state prescription-monitoring program. |
| Sample prescriptions, PDMP training account | Quiz ≥ 75% |
| 5 | Ordering, receiving, storing and counting controlled substances | 15 | lab | Order Schedule II drugs (DEA Form 222 or CSOS), receive and check them in, keep perpetual counts, take the biennial inventory, and document theft or loss (DEA Form 106) and destruction (DEA Form 41). |
| Mock forms, count trays, training vault | Reconciliation practical: counts match |
| 6 | Restricted drug programs and REMS | 15 | theory | Explain Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies and restricted programs — such as iPLEDGE for isotretinoin and the clozapine REMS — and the pseudoephedrine sales limits of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. |
| REMS program summaries, sales log | Quiz ≥ 75% |
| 7 | Recalls and drug-supply-chain security | 15 | theory | Act on Class I, II and III recalls and explain product serialisation and tracing under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. |
| Recall notices, serialised packages | Recall drill: competent |
| 8 | High-alert and look-alike/sound-alike medications | 15 | theory | Identify high-alert medications and look-alike/sound-alike pairs, and use tall-man lettering, separation and barcode checks to prevent mix-ups. |
| ISMP lists, training shelf | Shelf audit report |
| 9 | Error prevention and the types of prescription errors | 15 | theory | Classify prescription errors — wrong drug, dose, patient, directions, quantity, omission — and the checks that stop them before the patient. |
| Error case files | Quiz ≥ 75% |
| 10 | When to call the pharmacist | 15 | theory | Recognise questions and issues that require pharmacist judgement — drug utilisation review alerts, OTC recommendations, counselling, dose questions, adverse effects — and hand them off clearly. |
| Scenario cards | Scenario check: 100% correct hand-offs |
| 11 | Reporting events: MedWatch, ISMP and a just culture | 15 | theory | Report medication errors and adverse events through internal systems, the ISMP reporting program and FDA MedWatch, in a just-culture workplace. |
| Report forms | Event report accepted |
| 12 | Infection prevention, waste and disposal; law and safety case lab | 17 | practice | Apply infection-prevention practice, dispose of hazardous waste, sharps and controlled substances correctly, and solve integrated law-and-safety cases. |
| Waste containers, case files | Law and safety exam ≥ 75% |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy law and safety exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% | Written exam: federal and state law, controlled substances, REMS, recalls, error prevention. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Controlled-substance reconciliation practical | Skills demonstration | 45% | Counts and records reconcile exactly | Order, receive, count and document Schedule II stock in the training vault. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Event report and look-alike/sound-alike shelf audit | Project | 15% | Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterion | A written event report and an audit with recommendations. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Scope-of-practice hand-off check | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — 100% correct hand-offs | Scenario check on issues that require the pharmacist. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Capstone: A Pharmacy Quality-Improvement Project
Find a real quality or safety problem at a pharmacy site, measure it, fix it, write the SOP, and defend the result before a pharmacist-and-employer panel.
Outcomes- Define a measurable pharmacy quality problem
- Collect baseline data and find the root cause
- Pilot a fix and write the SOP
- Present and defend the results
Course text
Find a real quality or safety problem at a pharmacy site, measure it, fix it, write the SOP, and defend the result before a pharmacist-and-employer panel.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Capstone brief: choose a pharmacy quality problem; Capstone build I: baseline and root cause; Capstone build II: the fix and the SOP; Capstone presentation and defense.
What competent looks like. Define a measurable pharmacy quality problem. Collect baseline data and find the root cause. Pilot a fix and write the SOP. Present and defend the results.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capstone brief: choose a pharmacy quality problem | 40 | theory | Choose a real pharmacy quality or safety problem — a look-alike/sound-alike shelf, a controlled-substance count process, a refrigerator log, a compounding SOP — and write the brief and the measure of success. |
| Advisor, site access | Brief approved |
| 2 | Capstone build I: baseline and root cause | 40 | practice | Collect baseline data and find the root cause of the problem. |
| Audit tools | Baseline report |
| 3 | Capstone build II: the fix and the SOP | 40 | practice | Design and pilot the fix, write the standard operating procedure, and re-measure. |
| SOP template | SOP and results complete |
| 4 | Capstone presentation and defense | 42 | assessment | Present the problem, the data, the fix and the SOP to a pharmacist-and-employer panel. |
| Presentation equipment | Panel pass |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Quality-Improvement Project Package | Project | 60% | Scored 75% or higher on a pharmacist-panel rubric that evaluates problem statement, baseline data, root-cause analysis, intervention, and final SOP for completeness, accuracy, and patient-safety alignment | The student submits a complete project package including the written quality-improvement report, supporting data collection sheets, the finalized pharmacy SOP written to standard format, and evidence that the intervention was implemented or piloted at the pharmacy site; the package is scored by a pharmacist evaluator using a structured rubric. Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation |
| Pharmacy Technician Professional Portfolio | Portfolio | 20% | All required artifacts are present and the portfolio receives a passing rating on every mandatory section of the portfolio checklist, with no critical patient-safety or scope-of-practice deficiencies noted by the evaluator | The student assembles a portfolio documenting growth across the program, including competency logs, externship evaluations, sample calculations, compounding records, and a reflective statement connecting the capstone project to PTCE and ExCPT knowledge domains; a pharmacist or program faculty member reviews the portfolio against a standardized checklist. Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality |
| Capstone Oral Defense Before Pharmacist-and-Employer Panel | Oral / panel | 20% | Achieves a passing score on at least four of five panel rubric categories—problem identification, data interpretation, intervention rationale, SOP explanation, and response to panel questions—with no panel member recording a patient-safety concern that is left unresolved during the defense | The student presents the completed quality-improvement project to a panel that includes at least one licensed pharmacist and one employer or site representative, explains each phase of the project, and responds to direct questions about the intervention, the SOP, and how the change protects patient safety; the panel scores the defense using a shared rubric and deliberates to a pass or fail outcome. Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication |
Clinical Practicum: Community and Health-System Pharmacy
Supervised experiential hours in a dispensing community pharmacy and a hospital or health-system pharmacy, evaluated by a pharmacist preceptor. Exceeds the ASHP/ACPE standard of 120 experiential hours, two-thirds of them in a dispensing setting.
Outcomes- Perform the dispensing workflow under supervision
- Work unit-dose and automated dispensing systems
- Handle controlled substances and inventory to site policy
- Complete all preceptor competencies with verified hours
Course text
Supervised experiential hours in a dispensing community pharmacy and a hospital or health-system pharmacy, evaluated by a pharmacist preceptor. Exceeds the ASHP/ACPE standard of 120 experiential hours, two-thirds of them in a dispensing setting.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Placement orientation: HIPAA, site SOPs and safety; Community pharmacy rotation: dispensing; Health-system pharmacy rotation; Final evaluation and hours verification.
What competent looks like. Perform the dispensing workflow under supervision. Work unit-dose and automated dispensing systems. Handle controlled substances and inventory to site policy. Complete all preceptor competencies with verified hours.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Placement orientation: HIPAA, site SOPs and safety | 8 | theory | Complete the site orientation, HIPAA and safety training, and learn the site workflow before handling medications. |
| Site orientation packet | Orientation signed off |
| 2 | Community pharmacy rotation: dispensing | 120 | field | Work the dispensing workflow under a pharmacist preceptor: intake, entry, filling, billing, inventory and pickup. |
| Site systems | Preceptor checklist: competent |
| 3 | Health-system pharmacy rotation | 95 | field | Work in a hospital or health-system pharmacy: unit-dose, automated dispensing cabinets, IV room observation and controlled-substance handling. |
| Site systems | Preceptor checklist: competent |
| 4 | Final evaluation and hours verification | 20 | assessment | Complete the final preceptor evaluation and have every clinical hour verified for the board and the certification body. |
| Evaluation forms, hours log | All competencies satisfactory; hours verified |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist Preceptor Clinical Competency Evaluation | Clinical evaluation | 70% | A combined score of 75% or higher across all competency domains on the standardized preceptor evaluation rubric, with no individual domain rated below 'developing competence' and no critical safety or scope-of-practice failures recorded at either rotation site | The assigned pharmacist preceptor at each rotation site scores the student on a structured rubric covering prescription intake and data entry accuracy, medication dispensing and labeling, patient counseling referral to the pharmacist, sterile and non-sterile compounding technique (where applicable), inventory and controlled substance handling, and professional conduct; ratings from both the community pharmacy and health-system rotations are averaged to produce the final weighted score. Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative |
| Externship Hours and Pharmacy Task Verification Log | Log | 30% | Completion of the full 243 required externship hours documented with preceptor-countersigned daily time entries, with at least two-thirds of hours logged in a dispensing community pharmacy setting and all required task categories initialed as satisfactorily performed by the supervising pharmacist | The student maintains a chronological log recording the date, site, hours worked, and specific pharmacy technician tasks performed each shift—such as prescription processing, drug utilization review flagging, unit-dose packaging, or automated dispensing cabinet restocking—and the preceptor pharmacist initials each entry to verify accuracy and task proficiency before the program director conducts a final audit for completeness. Complete · Verified |
Certification Exam Preparation: PTCB CPhT and NHA ExCPT
Blueprint-mapped review, timed mock exams for both certification exams, and eligibility and registration with the certifying body.
Outcomes- Map strengths and gaps against both exam blueprints
- Score at least 80% on two timed mock exams
- Complete eligibility and schedule the certification exam
Course text
Blueprint-mapped review, timed mock exams for both certification exams, and eligibility and registration with the certifying body.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: The PTCE and ExCPT blueprints; Mock PTCE and review; Mock ExCPT and review; Final mock, eligibility and registration.
What competent looks like. Map strengths and gaps against both exam blueprints. Score at least 80% on two timed mock exams. Complete eligibility and schedule the certification exam.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The PTCE and ExCPT blueprints | 17 | theory | Map the two certification exams: the PTCE domains (Medications 35%, Federal Requirements 18.75%, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance 23.75%, Order Entry and Processing 22.5%) and the ExCPT test plan. |
| PTCB and NHA outlines | Study plan complete |
| 2 | Mock PTCE and review | 17 | assessment | Sit a timed mock PTCE and review every missed item by domain. |
| Mock exam bank | Mock exam scored |
| 3 | Mock ExCPT and review | 17 | assessment | Sit a timed mock ExCPT (100 scored items; 2 hours 10 minutes on the real exam) and review by domain. |
| Mock exam bank | Mock exam scored |
| 4 | Final mock, eligibility and registration | 17 | assessment | Pass a final mock exam and complete exam eligibility and scheduling for the PTCB CPhT or the NHA ExCPT. |
| Exam registration portals | Two mocks ≥ 80%; exam scheduled |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician Certification Mock Exam Battery (PTCE and ExCPT) | Mock certification exam | 100% | A minimum score of 75% on each of two full-length timed mock exams — one mapped to the PTCE blueprint (Medications, Federal Requirements, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, and Order Entry and Processing domains) and one mapped to the ExCPT blueprint (Technician Role, Law, Drugs and Drug Therapy, and Dispensing Process domains) — with both passing scores required to pass the assessment. | The student completes two separate timed mock certification exams under test-like conditions: one simulating the PTCE and one simulating the ExCPT, each followed by an instructor-facilitated item-by-item review; performance on each exam is scored against its respective certifying body's domain weightings to identify remaining knowledge gaps before the student submits a live certification application. Score · Time management |
External credential: PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT
The student sits the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCB) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (NHA) and registers with the state board of pharmacy. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.
Back to Pharmacy Technician · How the school gets authority to award these credentials
