OWENSBORO, Ky. — To prepare job seekers for a rewarding career in the rapidly expanding field of pharmacy technology, Owensboro Community and Technical College is offering a Pharmacy Tech National Certification Prep Course beginning in April. This nine-week course prepares individuals new to the field, as well as current technicians, to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam that leads to the national PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician Certification.
OCTC’s Pharmacy Tech National Certification Prep Course will meet virtually from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CST/6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST Tuesday evenings April 13 through June 8, 2021. This innovative course provides instructor-led virtual sessions combined with engaging web-based learning so participants gain an overview of the field of pharmacy technology in a variety of healthcare settings. This course focuses on the skills required of a pharmacy technician and the legal requirements and responsibilities for assisting a pharmacist. Some of the course topics include professional communication and customer service, patient care processes, and safety issues in addition to the PTCE Exam content areas of medications, federal requirements, patient safety and quality assurance, and order entry and processing.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow over the next decade due to an increase in chronic illnesses, an aging population, and a larger number of health insurance participants in the United States. As a result, there is an escalating demand for prescription medications and consequently the people who supply them. Additionally, pharmacy technicians who earn a national certification are assigned greater responsibility and tasks by a supervising pharmacist thus improving their career prospects and salary expectations.
“Earning the CPhT Certification can be an important first step or an opportunity to advance in a pharmacy career,” related Cindy Fiorella, OCTC’s vice-president of workforce and economic development. “Pharmacists are able to delegate some important medication reorder responsibilities to CPhTs. In many states, CPhT Certification is a core requirement for technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccines in a pharmacy setting.”
OCTC’s pharmacy tech national certification prep course aligns with the OCTC course PHA 110: Pharmacy Procedures and Skills, so participants will earn six college credits upon completion. This course is also required in a pharmacy technology pathway leading toward certificate and diploma options at several KCTCS colleges should participants wish to continue their education.
As a convenience for participants, registration for the national PTCE Exam and all books and materials are included in the cost of this course, which totals $1,704 per person. For group registrations, up to 50% of costs may be covered for eligible Kentucky companies through KCTCS TRAINS funding.
For more information about OCTC’s pharmacy tech national certification prep course, please contact Vicki Boyd at vicki.boyd@kctcs.edu or call 270-686-4447 or Allyson Sanders at allyson.sanders@kctcs.edu or call 270-686-4410.