Real-World Pharmacy Technician Experience

Mission College's Pharmacy Technician Program is not only theory, it is real-world application. Participate in over 400 hours of instruction that includes class and lab instruction, tutoring, workshop sessions, and hands-on training in a pharmacy setting.

The comprehensive curriculum is taught by a staff of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Observe first-hand pharmacy practice in action.

Lab Activities include simulations of real-life settings and hands-on practice with the dispensing and compounding of drug products, pharmacy software,drug labeling, inventory, and aseptic technique in our state of the art pharmacy lab. 

Module Topics

  • Intro to Pharmacy Practice
  • Pharmacy Communications/Customer Service
  • Pharmacy Terminology & Abbreviations
  • Pharmacy Law
  • Pharmaceuticals/Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy Calculations
  • OTC & Healthcare Devices
  • Managed Care
  • Professional Development
  • Prescription Computer Processing
  • Compounding
  • Institutional (Hospital) Pharmacy Practice
  • Outpatient Pharmacy Practice

Externship Sites

Clinical pharmacy externships allow you to gain clinical training in pharmacies by working with pharmacy personnel and applying theoretical knowledge.

 
Sample Pharm Tech Courses
Hands-on course work in Inpatient and Hospital Pharmacy Practice
The role of a pharmacy technician is to assist the pharmacist in activities related to drug dispensing. Pharmacy technicians must understand how pharmacy operations in hospital and institutional settings function such as their use of aseptic techniques, preparation of parenterals, proper handling of hazardous agents, unit dose repacking, floor stock, and crash carts. Students will understand formulary drugs, common universal precautions to avoid contamination.
Hands-on course work with IV and Compounding Practice

For the purposes of this class, students will learn the actual hands-on tasks directly related to filling and compounding prescription medications. This is a hands on class that will teach you the fundamentals of compounding calculations, packaging & preparation. This is a hand on class and students will enjoy making various creations!

Medical Terminology and Abbreviations
Pharmacy has its own special language, and pharmacy technicians need to be familiar with the abbreviations and symbols used to describe drugs, dosage forms, amounts, administrations, and any other essential information on prescriptions. In this section, students will learn: (1) word structure (2) general terms and concepts of physiology/pharmacology (3) abbreviations and symbols used in prescriptions, medication orders, and other clinical documentation. Students will learn through class discussions, activities, homework, and assigned readings.
Pharmacy Calculations Workshop
Course designed to teach the essential mathematical concepts and skills used on the job by pharmacy technicians. Basic mathematical skills are reinforced by performing drug dose calculations and drug preparations. Students will receive intensive practice in pharmacy math calculations, conversions, measurements, and applications of equations used in calculating dosages, preparing solutions, and determining inventory and profit margins.
Pharmacology Top 200 Drugs; Brand and Generic
This course presents the basic principles of pharmacology. Emphasis is on defining pharmacological classes of drugs, explaining the use of medication, and drug therapy. The student will learn what drugs are used for, cautions to observe in their use, side effects, drug interactions, contra-indications, etc. In addition, students will learn to read drug labels & package inserts, and the trade and generic names of 200 commonly prescribed medications.
Full List of Classes
A full listing of classes.