If you have decided that you want to go back to school to become a pharmacy technician then you have made a wise choice. Pharmacy tech jobs are in high demand right now with the outlook getting even better as the years go by. But returning to school after being out for a while can be scary. Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from getting an education. Keep reading for an overview of the types of courses you can expect to take when you sign up for a pharmacy technician program.
You must keep in mind that courses will vary from school to school. Therefore it is impossible to list all of the courses that you will find in a pharmacy technician program in this article. But we will cover the basics.
The first course you can expect to take is obvious. It is pharmacology. This course is designed to teach you about the different classifications of drugs. You will learn what the drugs are used for and how they should be administered. Pharmacology will also teach you all about generic and brand names drugs.
Another course that you will take in a pharmacy tech program is a math course. You will learn the basic algebraic equations that are used frequently in the medical world.
This course will show you how to figure out the correct doses of medications from various concentrations of the drug. You will also become very familiar with the differences between a milligram and a microgram.
Medical terminology classes are common in pharmacy technician programs. Learning medical terminology is critical when it comes to interpreting doctor’s orders or prescriptions. The same goes for the anatomy and physiology courses that you will take in pharmacy technician school. When you know the basic workings of the human body and the medical terms to go along with it, you will be able to understand why certain medications are being ordered for specific diseases.
Knowing these basics is an important safeguard against medication errors also. For example, let’s say someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and you receive a prescription that is hard to read. It looks like it reads Amaryl or Reminyl. Given the patient’s history of Alzheimer’s, the drug is most likely Reminyl. But if the pharmacist mistakenly fills it for Amaryl, which is a diabetic medication, the patient may suffer adverse effects. The pharmacy technician can help prevent medication errors by letting the pharmacist know that the patient has a history of Alzheimer’s and the medication should be clarified by the doctor. It always helps to have more than one person check over medication orders and prescriptions to prevent errors.
A lot of pharmacy technician programs will have courses dedicated to reading prescriptions and labels. Doctors are notorious for their awful handwriting. It takes training and a lot of practice to learn how to read prescriptions and doctor’s orders.
Ethics and law is another course that you will take in pharmacology technician school. This course will teach you the laws that pertain to healthcare and patient privacy. It will also teach you what your responsibilities are as a pharmacy technician. There is a entire code of ethics that pharmacy technicians must abide by if they want to keep their certification.
Depending on the program you choose, you may have additional courses in computers and technical skills, good communication skills and professionalism in the workplace. A lot of the pharmacy technician schools will have a class in over the counter medications. This is a great idea since a lot of over the counter medications can interact with prescription medications.
As stated before, the courses differ from program to program. Try to choose a program that is going to give you the best information for your money. It is always great to be able to choose a program that has classes that interest you. If you are already employed in a pharmacy or hospital, you may want to check with your employer to see if they have any specific requirements. But it is critical that you make sure any program you choose will fully prepare you for the certification exam.
Pharmacy technicians work closely with pharmacists to provide medication and healthcare products to patients. Online training from Penn Foster Career School will prepare you for a career as a pharmacy technician. Learn more about Penn Foster | Request free info
With a diploma from Penn Foster Career School you can become a pharmacy technician and begin a rewarding career in healthcare. With online classes at Penn Foster Career School, you can learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.
