The Pharmacy Technician Certificate Curriculum is a formal academic training program that prepares individuals to become pharmacy technicians. These allied health professionals assist and support licensed pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications and other health care products to patients. Under the direction of a pharmacist, the pharmacy technician performs pharmacy-related functions, in compliance with specific policies and procedures that provide optimal pharmaceutical care for their patients.

Pharmacy technicians are in high demand in health care and in the pharmaceutical industry. Job opportunities for pharmacy technicians are good, especially for those with previous experience, formal training, or certification, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Possible career opportunities for pharmacy technicians include a variety of practice environments including hospital, infusion, and long term care, and mail-order, chain and community pharmacy services. Pharmacy technicians work in computerized, clean, organized, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. Most of their workday is spent on their feet. They may be required to lift heavy boxes or to use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves.

Pharmacy technicians often have varying work schedules that include nights, weekends, and holidays. In facilities that are open twenty-four hours a day, such as hospital and mail order pharmacies, technicians may be required to work nights. Many technicians work part time.

The South Carolina Pharmacy Practice Act (administered by the S.C. Board of Pharmacy) requires all pharmacy technicians desiring state certification to (1) pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)- a national exam, (2) complete 1000 hours of practice (up to 400 clinical training hours in an educational program are recognized) under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, and (3) provide proof of completion of a formal academic pharmacy technician training program that is nationally accredited.

The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), 500 East-West Highway, Suite 900 Bethesda, MD 20814, Phone (866) 279-0681, www.ashp.org and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), 190 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2850 Chicago, IL 60603-3499, Phone (312) 664-3574, Fax (866) 228-2631, www.acpe-accredit.org.