Pharmacy Technician Program

Pharmacy technicians are a pharmacist’s right hand. They take care of a variety of tasks to help a pharmacy run smoothly — from dispensing medication to tracking inventory.

Here are some things you may do as a pharmacy technician:

• Greet patients and receive prescription requests
• Fill, label and distribute prescriptions
• Measure, mix and pour dosages of medication
• Prepare IV medications
• Create labels
• Update patient information
• Package or replace pharmaceuticals¹

¹California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Pharmacy Technicians in California

If you want a hands-on healthcare career but would rather not work with blood, our Pharmacy Technician program might be a good match for you.

Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great pharmacy technician:

Active listening – Pharmacy technicians need to be able to communicate with both patients and pharmacists, understanding what is being said and asking the right questions.

Reading comprehension – From prescriptions to label information, pharmacy technicians consume written information in a variety of formats and need to be able to accurately interpret and process that information.

Speaking – Pharmacy technicians work directly with patients and pharmacists and need to be able to communicate important medication information effectively.

Monitoring – Pharmacy technicians perform essential tasks to keep a pharmacy running smoothly, including monitoring and tracking inventory.

Mathematics – Pharmacy technicians measure, mix, pour and record the amount and dosages of medication.

Pharmacy technicians can work in a variety of settings, including:

• Health and personal care stores
• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Outpatient care centers
• Electronic shopping and mail-order houses
• General merchandise stores¹

¹California Employment Development Department OCC Guide, Pharmacy Technicians

Our pharmacy technician curriculum is divided into learning units called class modules. Standalone core class modules for the American Career College Pharmacy Technician program include:

Pharmacy Law – In these courses, you will be introduced to the legal duties and responsibilities of both the pharmacist and pharmacy technician. You will gain familiarity with regulatory agencies and their functions, including DEA, NAPB, State Boards, FDA, JACHO, ASHP and CSHP.

Drug Fundamentals – Coursework in this class module is designed to provide you with an understanding of trade and generic names, pharmaceutical compounding, drug classifications, indications, dosages, routes of administration and side effects. You will also receive a general overview of basic chemistry skills and learn how to use the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Pharmacology – These courses provide instruction in the various effects of drugs and the processes involved in pharmacokinetics. Common pathological conditions and diseases that affect each of the systems are discussed, and hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings will be practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.

Drug Distribution – Coursework in this class module is designed to provide you with an introduction to the language of pharmacy abbreviations. As you become adept at deciphering medication orders through daily lab exercises, you will learn the mathematical conversions and dosage calculations necessary to correctly process drug orders in the hospital or inpatient pharmacy setting.

IV Preparation – This course provides you with an understanding of the procedures, skills and techniques used in the preparation of sterile products for both hospital and home healthcare pharmacies. You will learn the calculations involved in the preparation of intravenous solutions and apply hands-on procedures in the preparation of sterile products using aseptic technique.

Retail Pharmacy – These courses are designed to provide you with training in such procedures as filling prescriptions accurately, drug procurement, and third-party billing. Hands-on pharmacy procedures used in various settings are practiced daily in the pharmacy lab.

Pharmacy Technician Externship – Under the direct supervision of qualified personnel, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills presented and practiced throughout the school's program.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

Students can earn their diploma to become a pharmacy technician in as little as 9 months.

Our admissions and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you break down the pharmacy technician school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Pharmacy Technician program cost, access our tuition info.

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

Yes! ACC's Pharmacy Technician program includes a 320-hour, in-person externship that gives students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired learning hands-on throughout the training program.

A pharmacist is a licensed healthcare professional with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, responsible for interpreting prescriptions, dispensing medications and providing patient counseling.¹ A pharmacy technician works under the supervision of and supports pharmacists by assisting with administrative tasks like prescription verification, medication packaging, and inventory management.²

¹California Department of Huyman Resources, Pharmacist
²California Department of Human Resources, Pharmacy Technician