Pharmacy Technician School Curriculum

Starting Your Program is designed to help you become a successful Penn Foster student, including learning how to use all available tools and resources.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify all unit components and materials in your program
• Identify ways to use Penn Foster’s helpful services and academic resources
• Identify Penn Foster’s academic and behavioral policies
• Choose effective study and time management skills

In this course, students will be introduced to the practice of pharmacy, including the history of pharmacy, technician roles in various practice settings, and pharmacy ethics and professionalism. In addition, students will learn about advancing and emerging opportunities for technicians now and in the future.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Examine the role and responsibilities of the pharmacy technician profession over time

In this course, you'll learn the personal qualities that employers look for in their employees, such as integrity and dependability. You'll review the baseline responsibilities common to most jobs and the importance of employee handbooks in a successful work environment. Strategies required to be productive and adapt to change are also covered. You'll examine the interpersonal skills needed to ensure positive interactions with diverse populations through various channels of communication and gain strategies for overcoming communication barriers. An understanding of the importance of teamwork, different roles of team members, characteristics of leadership, and strategies for overcoming conflict employed by successful teams are critical elements of interpersonal interactions.

You'll gain an understanding of critical workplace skills. These include time management, prioritization, the decision-making process, the problem-solving process, and open-mindedness, as well as learning how to interact with customers in a professional manner.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Define the personal qualities of integrity, dependability, and professionalism that are essential to effective work environments
• Explain the interpersonal skills, including respect, communication, and teamwork, that are needed to succeed in a work environment
• Describe workplace skills, tools, and technology that are necessary for working in a professional environment

This course will familiarize you with various body systems including structure, function, diseases, disorders, and treatments. You’ll also learn drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Summarize the basic principles of pharmacology
• Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the cardiovascular and hematologic systems
• Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the respiratory and endocrine systems
• Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases and treatments of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems

This course is a continuation of Pharmacology, Drug Class, and Body Systems, Part 1. You’ll continue to learn about various body systems, drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders. You'll also learn about specific classes of antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and dietary supplements for preventative health. Medications are listed throughout this unit by their generic names, with brand names provided in parentheses.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems
• Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the sensory and nervous systems
• Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the immune system
• Identify the benefits and mechanisms of action of different types of medications and dietary supplements in preventing and treating disease

In this course, you’ll learn how law affects healthcare practitioners, the origin of laws that affect medical professionals, and how to mitigate risk regarding malpractice, crimes, and torts. You'll also learn about the legal basis for the confidentiality of healthcare information, and the laws regulating healthcare information collected and maintained by government agencies.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Interpret civil and criminal laws related to pharmacy practice
• Assess ethical issues healthcare professionals face today
• Apply confidentiality laws and regulations

This course introduces the pharmacy technician student to basic math, algebra, and pharmaceutical calculations used in pharmacy practice.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Categorize basic math skills needed for pharmacy technician practice
• Perform calculations related to prescription orders
• Perform special medical and business math calculations used in the pharmacy

This course introduces students to sterile and nonsterile compounding. A strong emphasis is placed on proper aseptic technique and compliance with USP 797 and 800. Compounding practices and equipment are also discussed.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Define sterile compounding, requirements and processes for IV medications, and the pharmacy technician’s role
• Explain best practices for sterile compounding following USP guidelines
• Explain best practices for compounding, including hazardous drugs following USP guidelines, quality management, and safety

This course introduces the pharmacy technician student to pharmacy operations. Students will discuss the differences between pharmacy settings, examine the business applications of pharmacy, and review drug information resources, including how and when to use them. Students will also learn how to handle medication safely, and the steps involved in error prevention.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Examine drug information references and their proper use
• Differentiate the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians in various pharmacy settings
• Describe the importance of reporting medication errors and the preventive measures taken to reduce them

In this course, you’ll learn about the pharmacy reimbursement process. You’ll study third party healthcare plans, reimbursement systems, and claims processing to see how medical services are billed in healthcare institutions. You’ll also learn about various health insurance programs, how they’re funded, and which types of patients they cover.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Explain reimbursement methodologies related to pharmacy practice settings
• Explain the elements of pharmacy billing and proper inventory management

This course is designed to facilitate your mastery of computer and practical skills needed to perform various pharmacy technician-related responsibilities in community pharmacy practices. The course entails a series of lab activities that walk you through entering and filling prescription orders.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Use database software and pharmacy materials for simulated prescription processing
• Model community pharmacy tasks and database processing for medical equipment, basic compounding, and IV orders

This course is designed to strengthen your working knowledge of the concepts essential for pharmacy technician practice and serves as a review to prepare you to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Demonstrate preparedness for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam