Pharmacy Technician Certificate (Central Oregon Community College)

TBCC has developed a partnership with Central Oregon Community College (COCC), Adventist Health Tillamook, and local businesses to provide training for pharmacy technicians in Tillamook County. This certificate is granted by COCC. TBCC offers program prerequisites, general education, and related coursework. All pharmacy technology courses are offered by Central Oregon Community College and require admission to their program. Estimated cost of this program for tuition, is $7,400, there are additional costs for textbooks, fees, supplies, screenings and CPR certification.

Career & Program Description

The program prepares individuals for employment as a pharmacy technician in a variety of pharmacy settings. Pharmacy technicians are skilled workers who are educated and trained to work in a pharmacy and assist in all areas of the pharmacy not requiring the professional judgment of the registered pharmacist. Courses are completed in an online and hybrid format.

The pharmacy technician curriculum was developed using the accreditation standards of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and is tailored specifically to the students in the program. This program prepares students to pass the National Pharmacy Technician Certification exam required by the Oregon Board of Pharmacy to practice as a pharmacy technician in the state of Oregon. To earn a certificate of completion all required courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better and students must maintain a 2.0 overall GPA or higher.

This three-term program is developed to prepare individuals for employment in the pharmacy industry. Some current practice areas for the pharmacy technician include retail, hospital, manufacturing, disease state management, and mail order and insurance claim specialists. The pharmacy technician processes prescriptions and medication orders and plays an integral role in maintaining the pharmacy department.

Topics of study include medical terminology, anatomy and functions of the human body, therapeutic classification and drug names, pharmacy procedures, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy law and interpersonal communications. Students will have a working knowledge of sterile technique, standards of practice, quality assurance and patient confidentiality. In addition, students will develop and practice communication skills needed to function in a professional setting. In order to gain workplace experience, students will also participate in a hospital and retail pharmacy practicum.

Criminal Charges or Convictions

A history of criminal charges or convictions may prohibit a student from entering the Pharmacy Technician profession. See list of Potentially Disqualifying Crimes at https://www.cocc.edu/pharmacy-technician/pharmacy-technician-criminal-charges-or-convictions/. To apply for this program see; https://www.cocc.edu/programs/pharmacy-tech/pharmacy-tech-advising-information.aspx

It is up to the student to research eligibility requirements in the state for which the student desires to practice.