Pharmacy Technician Program

Pharmacy Technician Certification

The Three Rivers Pharmacy Technician Program is a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program for students seeking to earn their PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential.

What is a Pharmacy Technician?

A Pharmacy Technician supports pharmacological services by distributing, stocking, and assembling medication. Pharmacy Technicians work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist in hospitals, clinics, home infusion pharmacies, community pharmacies, retail pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, long-term care facilities, pharmacy benefit managers, or large industrial complexes.

Course Description

Course content includes medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Students will learn:

  • Students will be able to list and describe the top 100 drugs (brand and generic name, indication)
  • Students will identify and discuss CT state and federal pharmacy law
  • Students will compute pharmacy-specific calculations and equations
  • Students will identify and demonstrate medication safety strategies
  • Students will demonstrate simulated retail prescription processing via online assignments, including customer service scenarios, interpreting Rx’s, calculating days’ supply and dosages, IV drug flow rates, etc.
  • Billing and reimbursement.

Certification

This comprehensive, fully online 134-hour course will prepare students to enter the pharmacy field and take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) exam. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Program includes a graded final exam to help prepare students for the PTCB exam. The instructor will provide details in class. The PTCB exam is included in the cost as well as the textbook. This national certification program enables pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. Students who complete this program successfully will receive national certification.

A final grade of 70 (C-) or higher is required to pass this course.

Computer Requirements

Class time is divided between 84 hours of in-classroom learning and about 50 hours of at-home work, web-based computer simulation assignments. This course will be taught fully online using WebEx for live meetings and Blackboard Learn (Bb) lessons and assignments. Please make sure you have access to a computer and the internet to complete this class.  Lectures will be recorded on Blackboard. Students need to make sure their TRCC computer account is active for the current semester and can log in before the first class. Please contact the IT Department at (860) 215-9049 to arrange to activate your account.

Please Note:
This course is not suited for use with Chromebooks.

Prerequisites

NOTE: Background checks are required for most allied health positions. Students with felony convictions may have difficulty obtaining employment in these fields.

  1. Must be 18 years old
  2. Must have a Highschool Diploma or GED
  3. Placement Test
    • Call (860) 215-9028 to schedule Math and English Comprehension test.
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Course Schedule

Fall 2024 – Updates coming soon!

  • Instructor:  Peter Sposato, R.Ph, CphT
  • Instructional Method: LRON (Live Remote) – These classes are similar to traditional classes, except they are fully online. You attend LRON classes at the scheduled times with your professor and classmates in a Zoom-like session. For more information about Instructional Methods, visit here.
  • Dates: TBD – program begins late August
  • Time: TBD
  • Location: Online (LRON)
  • Cost: $1,999, textbook and exam fee included* Students will be contacted by the program coordinator for textbook pick up.
  • Registration deadline: TBD

Register Now!

To register for this course, please visit our Workforce Registration Page. You’ll find directions on how to register, along with information about information sessions with Workforce advisors, funding sources for financing your tuition, refund policies, and more.

Please Note: A seat will not be held until all of your registration forms and payment are received.

SNAP, Veterans and WIOA Eligible