Pharmacy Technician

Certificate Program

Program Overview

Description

The Pharmacy Technician residential program at GCHI prepares the student to work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, preparing and dispensing medications. It is designed to prepare students to enter the pharmacy field at an entry level in hospitals, community (retail) pharmacies, or clinics, as well as non-traditional settings. Topics covered include an introduction to pharmacy science, a study of body systems, classifications of drugs, communication skills, math for pharmacy technology and ethics, law and HIPAA rules. Students must register with the State of Georgia Board of Pharmacy which includes a mandatory background check.

Objective

To prepare the student for an entry-level position as a pharmacy technician who will be able to:

Describe and understand federal and state laws and regulations associated with the receipt, screening, transcribing or interpreting, and delegation of prescription/medication orders
Receive telephone, electronic, and faxed prescriptions from prescribers and assess orders for completeness
Identify the schedule for controlled substance and recognize who has prescribing authority; verify a prescriber’s DEA number according to established procedures via the DEA
Explain how to report a medication error to ISMP, MERP, or FDA MedWatch.
Knowledge of the profession of pharmacy technology, the health care system, medical ethics and law, HIPAA, and the interaction with patients.
List and describe methods for achieving and maintaining quality assurance, and the duties and tasks of the pharmacy technician that require quality assurance procedures.

Program Details

Program Cost

Application Fee	$50
Tuition	$7,000
Lab Fee	$300
Uniform	$35
Total	$7,385

Credentialing Exams

Graduates are eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) exam.

Clinicals (Externship)

A clinical (externship) course is included in this program to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations in a healthcare setting. Students are required to complete the required 800 clinical hours and other related learning activities prior to graduation. Students are not paid for work performed at the clinical site.

Program Resources

At GCHI, our program resources are designed to give you a hands-on learning experience that mirrors real-world clinical settings. Our facilities offer three distinct lab areas, each fully equipped to support specific programs and provide the skills you need for your career. Our resources also include:

A comprehensive library stocked with textbooks, reference materials, and medical journals
Conference room with white board to promote group collaborations
Computer lab with internet access
Scientific microscopes with access to a wide collection of samples
Ultrasound machines
Hospital beds
The Unetixs Peripheral Vascular System
Stress test machines
EKG machines
Medical Supplies
Hospital training manikins
CPR Manikins
And much more

Course List

Course Number	Course Title	Clock Hours
Pharm1	General Pharmacy	81
Pharm2	Body Systems	72
Pharm3	Classification of Drugs	36
Pharm4	Basic Sciences for the Pharmacy Tech.	18
Pharm5	Professional Development	15
Pharm CL	Clinical Rotation	160
	Total	382

Important Disclosure

All students must register with the State of Georgia, which includes a mandatory finger-print background check. Failure of this background check will impact your ability to secure employment as a Pharmacy Technician.

Job Outlook

$40,300

2023 Median Pay

7 %

Much faster than average growth rate

47,400 +

Job openings projected each year

463,900

Jobs held in 2023

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm (visited October 22, 2024).

Now Enrolling

Registration Deadline

August 29, 2025
Fall Semester begins September 8, 2025

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