Pharmacy Tech Advising Information

A partnership between Treasure Valley, Blue Mountain, Tillamook Bay, and Southwestern Oregon Community Colleges and Central Oregon Community College. The pharmacy tech program is a 3 term cohort.

Fall 2013 open advising hours:  Wednesday or Friday from 2-430pm or by appointment only.  Please call Shannon Waller, Program Director at 541-318-3722 or email swaller@cocc.edu

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN OVERVIEW

Pharmacy technicians must have a broad knowledge of pharmacy practice, and be skilled in the techniques required to work in a variety of pharmacy settings. Pharmacy technicians may perform many of the same duties as the pharmacist to prepare medications to be dispensed to the patient. All of a technician’s work must be checked by a pharmacist before medication can be dispensed. Pharmacy technicians may work in hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, home health care pharmacies, nursing home pharmacies, clinic pharmacies, nuclear medicine pharmacies, and in mail order prescription pharmacies and for third party payment plans such as insurance companies. Currently, hospital and retail pharmacies hire the majority of pharmacy technicians.

The role of the pharmacy technician in today’s practice is quite demanding and accuracy working in a sometimes busy and stressful situation is crucial to the safety of the patient. It is essential that the pharmacy technician be precise and exact when preparing medications to be dispensed to the patient.

The courses developed for the Pharmacy Technician Program are designed to give the student the skills to perform duties required of the pharmacy technician in both institutional (hospital and long term care facilities) and retail or community pharmacies. The course work will be rigorous and require dedication and commitment from the student. This is a full time program and the student should plan to spend two to three hours of preparation for each credit of class work studying the material. It is essential that assignments be completed on time and accurately.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Pharmacy Technician Program is a three term, full-time, limited enrollment distance education certificate program which admits 24 students. 16 students from Central Oregon and 2 to 4 students from each partner school.

The pharmacy technician coursework is taught online and is accessible to both COCC and partner college students throughout Oregon. Interested students may take their pre-requisite and co-requisite coursework at the college(s) of their choice.

Students registering for the Pharmacy Technician Program from Treasure Valley, Blue Mountain, Tillamook Bay and Southwestern Oregon Communities will be dually enrolled at Central Oregon Community College for the Pharmacy Technician Classes.

Students from the partner schools will have to travel to the Central Oregon Community College campus at least 1 weekend during the fall and winter term and  to complete the lab requirements for PHM 140 Pharmacy Tech Practice. (Dates to be announced)

Registration for the Pharmacy Technician program is through open enrollment and seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must meet all program prerequisites in order to register. Pharmacy Technician courses are tailored specifically to the students in the program. This program prepares students to pass the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam required to practice as a pharmacy technician in the state of Oregon. The majority of the Pharmacy Technician classes are taught online from Central Oregon Community College. 180 hours of clinical experience in both hospital and retail pharmacy is required and will be conducted in Central Oregon as well as at the healthcare facilities near the partner schools.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED

Students must submit an official copy of their high school diploma or a GED as reflected in the COCC application.

PREREQUISITES*

Placement into WR 121
MTH 20 or Placement into MTH 60
Pass Computer Competency or CIS 120

NEW: Criminal Background check completed to students officially registered for the cohort.

*May vary between partner schools

Students must provide verification that the prerequisite courses or competencies have been completed. All courses must be passed with a grade of “C” or better. Students enrolled in these courses during the fall term, must also achieve a final grade of “C” or better in order to begin the program.

TRANSCRIPTS

Applicants may transfer credits to fulfill prerequisite courses. It is the applicant’s responsibility to assure that transcripts are submitted to the Admissions Records Office at Central Oregon Community College several weeks prior to the winter term registration.

Unofficial transcripts must also be submitted to the Pharmacy Technician Program Director as part of your prerequisite verification packet.

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN LICENSE

All students must complete a clinical practicum following coursework. In order to participate in the practicum (clinical experience) courses it is required that each student obtain a Pharmacy Technician License from the Oregon Board of Pharmacy. www.pharmacy.state.or.us/. A criminal background check will be conducted by the Oregon Board of Pharmacy before issuing the license. If the student does not pass the criminal background check the licensure as a pharmacy technician will not be possible and the student will not be admitted to the practicum courses. The student is responsible for the Pharmacy Technician License fee of $102.00. If the student is arrested during the time he/she is in the Pharmacy Tech Program then he/she must notify the Program Director of the arrest. The information will be reviewed and may result in the student’s dismissal from the Pharmacy Tech Program.

DRUG TESTING

Students may be required to submit a drug screen urinalysis prior to the practicum. This will depend on the policies of the individual practicum site and the cost will be responsibility of the student. The cost of the screening is approximately $65.00.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Verification of immunizations is required prior to registration in the Pharmacy Technician Program. The initial Hepatitis B vaccine should be given no later than the start of the winter term in order to complete the series prior to the practicum. Students are required to show proof of immunization to Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, and Tdap. A current tuberculosis test is also required.

The Deschutes County Health Department has partnered with us to offer a special immunization session for Health Career students only. Certain requirements must be met. Please click here, Immunization Clinic, for more information and dates.

CPR CERTIFICATION

Students are required to have a current American Heart Association CPR/AED (Healthcare Provider) certification for adult, child/infant.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

All prerequisites must be complete prior to approval to register.

The number of students admitted to the Pharmacy Technician program is determined annually by Central Oregon Community College. It is estimated that 16 positions will be available in Central Oregon and 2 to 4 positions will be available at each of the partner locations. Registration in the program is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Unofficial transcripts must also be submitted to the Pharmacy Technician Program Director as part of your prerequisite verification packet.

Registration checklists for new and continuing COCC students and distance students are included at the end of this packet. Please carefully follow the appropriate checklist to ensure your eligibility to register in the Pharmacy Technician program.

Each student must complete the COCC Student Online Orientation. Students will not be able to register for online classes until this orientation is complete.

FIRST WEEK REQUIREMENTS AND WAITLIST INFORMATION

Once registered in the Pharmacy Technician classes students are required to sign-in to the online classes on the first day of class. If a student does not sign in on the first day of class for the Pharmacy Tech classes then all pharmacy tech instructors will automatically withdraw that student from the program. If seats become available, students on the wait list will be notified immediately and they may then register to fill the vacancy. To insure an orderly process, please make sure your COCC student record contains updated contact information. Your COCC email account will be used for program updates. Be sure to check your COCC email account regularly.

ESTIMATED COSTS TO COMPLETE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE

In addition to tuition the estimated costs for students to complete the entire program are:

• Books $700
• Program Fees $450
• On-line Fees $170
• Equipment and Supplies $100
• Criminal Background Check $50
• Drug Screen $65
• Pharmacy Tech License $102
• Immunizations $250
• CPR Certificate $55

Contact the Financial Aid office at 541-383-7260 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs. Students are responsible for costs related to travel to the COCC campus and practicum locations.

BLUE MOUNTAIN CC, TREASURE VALLEY CC, TILLAMOOK BAY CC AND SOUTHWESTERN OREGON CC

All prerequisites must be complete or in progress prior to approval to register. Prerequisite verification must be submitted to COCC at least 2 weeks prior to registration. Students must contact their local advisor and confirm that prerequisites have been met and forwarded to the Pharmacy Technician Program at COCC.

The number of students admitted to the Pharmacy Technician program is determined annually by Central Oregon Community College. It is estimated that 12-14 positions will be available in Central Oregon and 2 to 4 positions will be available at each of the partner locations.

Registration checklists for new and continuing COCC and distant students are included at the end of this packet. Please carefully follow the appropriate checklist to ensure your eligibility to register in the Pharmacy Technician program.

Students at each partner college will have a separate section (CRN) from COCC students ensuring that they are not competing for seats with COCC students. These CRNs will be made available to the student once all registration materials are submitted to the Pharmacy Technician Program and the student is cleared to register. Distant students will also be admitted on a first come, first served basis from their individual schools.

Eligible students must register during their assigned registration time frame at the college they are attending. Check the COCC Academic Calendar for registration dates. Registration to the Pharmacy Tech Classes requires approval from the Pharmacy Technician Department. Students will be cleared to register once all registration materials are submitted to the Pharmacy Technician Department. It is recommended that all registration material be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the initial registration date.