Curriculum
The Career Step Pharmacy Technician training program includes 12 modules designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in both retail and institutional settings, as well as to prepare students for the national certification exam. Numerous exercises and assessments throughout each module ensure that students master each concept before moving on to the next. Content experts guide students from start to finish. Students can expect to spend approximately 450 hours mastering this material.
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program includes 2 courses: Pharmacy Technician and Introduction to Pharmacology
Pharmacy Technician
Module 1: History, Laws, & Ethics
- History of Medicine and Pharmacy
- Pharmacy Laws and Regulations
- Food and Drug Administration/Drug Enforcement Administration
- Controlled Substances
- Prescription Regulation
- Pharmacy Ethics and Communication
- Pharmacy Competencies
- Pharmacy Settings
- History of Pharmacy
- Conversions and Calculations
- Metric System
- Apothecary System
- Avoirdupois System
Pharmacy Technician
Module 2: Dosage Forms, Prescriptions, & OTC Drugs
- Routes of Administration
- Drug Classifications
- Drug Abbreviations
- Medical Terminology
- Drug Information Referencing
- Steps in Processing a Prescription
- Processing Refills
- Filing Prescriptions
- OTC Drug Categories and Conditions They Treat
- How a Prescription Drug Becomes OTC
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Eastern Versus Western Medicine
- Hospital Pharmacy
Pharmacy Technician
Module 3: Medication Management
- Repackaging and Compounding
- Safety and Documentation
- Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
- Compounding Calculations
- Ophthalmic Agents
- Regulatory and Quality Control
- Aseptic Technique
- Ordering and Billing Systems
- Medication Safety and Error Prevention
- How, Where, and Why Errors Occur
- Reporting Errors
- Drug Labeling
Pharmacy Technician
Module 4: Body Systems Part 1
- Anatomy and Functions of the Endocrine System
- Description of Hormones
- Conditions and Treatment of the Endocrine System
- Central Nervous System
- Peripheral Nervous System
- Neurotransmitters
- Psychopharmacology
- Emotional Health
- Psychiatric Disorders
- Function and Conditions of the Respiratory System
- Opthalmic (Visual) System and Its Conditions
- Auditory System
Pharmacy Technician
Module 5: Body Systems Part 2
- Integumentary System (Skin, Hair, and Glands)
- Conditions and Treatment of the Integumentary System
- Form and Function of the Gastrointestinal System
- Conditions Affecting the Gastrointestinal System
- The Urinary System
- Anatomy of the Heart
- Heart Conditions and Medications
- Male Reproductive System
- Female Reproductive System
- Conditions Affecting the Reproductive Systems
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Pharmacy Technician
Module 6: Drug Classifications and the Basic Sciences
- Anti-infectives
- Types of Infections and Their Treatments
- Anti-inflammatories
- Pain and Inflammation Conditions and Medications
- Antihistamines
- Allergic Conditions and Their Treatments
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Vaccines and the Lymphatic System
- Causes and Types of Cancer
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer
- Basic Microbiology
- Basic Chemistry
Pharmacology
Module 1: Drugs and Regulations
- Consumer Safety and Drug Regulations
- Drug Laws
- FDA and DEA
- Health Care Workers and the Law
- Drug Names
- Legal Terms Referring to Drugs
- Drug References
- Sources of Drugs
- Effects of Drugs
- Drug Processing by the Body
- Absorption and Distribution
- Metabolism and Excretion
- Medication Preparations
- Standard Drug Forms
- Abbreviations and Systems of Measurement
- Basic Arithmetic Test
- Calculation Guidelines
- Ratio and Proportion
- Pediatric Dosage
- Geriatric Dosage
- Prevention of Medication Errors
Pharmacology
Module 2: Drug Administration
- Responsible Drug Administration
- Medication Errors
- Principles of Administration
- Administration of Medications Orally
- Administration of Medications by Nasogastric Tube
- Administration of Medications by Gastric Tube
- Administration of Medications Rectally
- Sublingual and Buccal Administration
- Transcutaneous Drug Delivery System
- Inhalation Therapy
- Injections
- Skin Medications
- Application to the Mucous Membranes
- Eye Medications
- Poison Control
- Poisoning by Ingestion
- Poisoning by Inhalation
- External Poisoning of Skin or Eyes
- Poisoning by Sting and Snakebite
Pharmacology
Module 3: Drug Classifications - Part 1
- Fat-Soluble Vitamins
- Water-Soluble Vitamins
- Minerals
- Antioxidants
- Alternative Medicines
- Skin Medications
- Cautions for Topical Medications
- Autonomic Nervous System Drugs
- Adrenergics and Adrenergic Blockers
- Cholinergics and Cholinergic Blockers
- Antineoplastic Drugs
- Cautions and Responsibilities for Antineoplastic Drugs
- Urinary System Drugs
- Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)
Pharmacology
Module 4: Drug Classifications - Part 2
- Gastrointestinal Drugs
- Agents for Treatment of Ulcers and Reflux Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Anti-infective Drugs
- Vaccines
- Antifungals
- Anti-tuberculosis Agents
- HIV Information and Resources
- Eye Medications
- Anti-glaucoma Agents
- Analgesics and Local Anesthetic
- Sedatives and Hypnotics
- Psychotropic Medications
- CNS Stimulants
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotic Medications
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Pharmacology
Module 5: Drug Classifications - Part 3
- Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
- Anti-inflammatory Drugs
- Osteoporosis Therapy
- Anticonvulsants
- Anti-Parkinsons Drugs
- Agents for Alzheimer's Disease
- Endocrine System Drugs
- Pituitary Hormones
- Thyroid and Anti-thyroid Agents
- Anti-diabetic Agents
- Reproductive System Drugs
- Estrogens and Progestins
- Choice of Contraceptives
- Infertility Drugs
- Drugs for Labor and Delivery
Pharmacology
Module 6: Drug Classifications - Part 4
- Cardiovascular Drugs
- Cardiac Glycosides
- Antiarrhythmic Agents
- Anti-hypertensives
- Vasoconstrictors
- Platelet Inhibitor Therapy
- Respiratory System Drugs
- Mucolytics and Expectorants
- Antihistamines and Decongestants
- Smoking Cessation Aids
- Drugs and Older Adults
- Cumulative Effects of Drugs
- Inappropriate Medications Use in Older Adults
- Drugs that May Cause Mental Impairment
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
- Polypharmacy
Related Links