5771 - Pharmacy Technician (C.C.)

This is a Limited/Selective Access program.

The program is designed to prepare students for employment as competent, confident entry-level pharmacy technicians in a non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment. The program is aligned with the Florida Board of Education State Frameworks and facilitates learning that can be applied in an array of pharmacy practice settings.

The program emphasis is on the health care industry and focuses on planning, management, finance, technical, and production skills, underlying principles of technology, labor issues, community issues, and health, safety, and environmental issues. The content of the program includes but is not limited to metric system, medical terminology, medicinal drugs, pharmaceutical compounding, USP 795 standards, sterile techniques, USP 797 standards, maintenance of inventory, IV preparation, receiving and handling of hazardous drug materials, preparing purchase orders, receiving and checking supplies purchased, printing labels, typing prescription labels, delivering medications, pricing prescription drug orders and supplies, prepackaging unit dose packages, patient record systems, control records, data processing automation in pharmacy, computer application, employability skills, leadership, and human relations skills, health and safety, including CPR.

A minimum grade of C or higher must be achieved in all professional coursework.

Admission to this program is limited and is based on academic performance and other criteria.

Adult Basic Skills are a major criterion in a student’s completion of the program. In order to earn the Career Certificate, students must achieve or surpass the designated exit score(s) on an approved adult basic skills assessment or qualify for a waiver. Visit the Available Assessments webpage for program exit scores. College Assessment and Certification locations and information can be found at on the Assessment and Certification webpage. For students who need assistance in order to meet the exit requirement(s), the College offers remediation through tutoring, referral to online resources and/or completion of Academic Skills Building (ASB) coursework in Mathematics and Reasoning through Language Arts.

Upon acceptance into the pharmacy technician program:

1. Successful completion of the background and drug screening process will be required upon acceptance into the program.

2. A physical examination will be required upon acceptance into the program. Practicum experience is required part of the Pharmacy Technician program. In order to participate in a hospital or medical office-based clinical, a student will be expected to submit health history information (physical exam), proof of immunizations, proof of immunity, successful drug screen, and background screening. To ensure employability in the widest possible manner, all students are required to submit drug screening and criminal background check results and a physical exam to the Pharmacy Technician program prior to enrolling.

In order to obtain licensing as a Pharmacy Technician, a student will be expected to submit health history information. To ensure employability in the widest possible manner, all students are required to submit a physical exam to the Pharmacy Technician program prior to enrolling.

Some practice settings may have additional requirements including health insurance, a volunteer application, references, fingerprinting and background check, drug testing, and/or an interview prior to the start of the clinical experience. The additional requirements are the responsibility of the student, including expenses.

The cost of the background check(s) and drug screen(s) is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline.

It is recommended that students have a conference with the program advisor prior to applying to the program. To meet the minimum requirements for consideration and acceptance to the Pharmacy Technician program, students must:

1. Complete a Florida State College at Jacksonville application.

2. Complete a Pharmacy Technician program application.

3. Provide evidence of current CPR certification (adult, child and infant) achieved through an American Heart Association approved Basic Life Support (BLS) course for Health Care Providers that includes hands-on simulated experiences.

4. Submit one of the following to student records:

   1. An official (unopened) high school completion transcript (no diplomas); or

   2. An official copy of GED® test scores (a copy will be made and the original returned to the applicant); or

   3. College transcript (a minimum of 12 college credits must have been completed if using college GPA). Note: Florida State College at Jacksonville transcripts can be unofficial. Transcripts from outside colleges must be official (unopened).

The application deadline is May 15 each year with classes starting in fall term.

(904) 997-2526 or elysia.cochran@fscj.edu.

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