NDSCS College Catalog

Pharmacy Technician

Also available online

The Pharmacy Technician program is designed to prepare students for careers performing and managing the technical distributive functions in pharmacies and pharmacy-related industries. By doing so, pharmacy technicians allow the pharmacist to concentrate on clinical services such as patient consultation, physician intervention, drug therapy analysis and other clinical topics. The pharmacy technician performs those functions of pharmacy practice that do not require a pharmacist’s professional education or judgment.

NDSCS offers two on-campus program options - a one-year (39 academic credits) Certificate and a two-year (64 credits) Associate in Applied Science degree. Both of these include eight weeks of internship in community and hospital settings, which occurs after all classroom requirements have been completed.

Our programs are fully accredited by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists.

Students receive classroom, laboratory and practical experience covering community and institutional practice, sterile product preparation, manufacturing, inventory management and record-keeping, medical terminology and drug products. Students also take other courses in communications, writing, psychology and speech that will help provide them with the skills to advance in their careers. Upon completion of our program, the graduate will be registered with the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy (which is required for employment) and are eligible for national certification.

Most pharmacies employ several technicians, and opportunities within the field are steadily increasing. Pharmacy technicians are found in community, hospital and home health care pharmacies, as well as research institutions, manufacturers and other industrial settings. Our graduates have enjoyed 100-percent job placement since our program’s inception in 1994.

Completed application for the federal, North Dakota and Minnesota criminal background checks will be required upon entry to the program. A previous felony conviction may affect fieldwork placements. The applicant must visit with the department chair regarding this issue if it applies.

Contact information

For more specific information, call Barbara Lacher, assistant program director, at 1-800-342-4325, ext. 3-2114. Also, email her at barbara.lacher@ndscs.edu or at alliedhealthcareers@ndscs.edu

Admission requirements

1. Completed application to the college.
2. High school graduate or G.E.D.
3. Be 18 years of age before completion of the program.
4. Beginning algebra skills required.
5. Minimum composite score of 15 on the ACT test.
6. A personal interview may be required.

NOTE: It is recommended for applicants to have taken algebra and chemistry while in high school. If these were not taken in high school, then algebra should be taken before entering the program.

Award

Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded a certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree in Pharmacy Technician.