The Certificate of Completion Pharmacy Technician program prepares individuals for employment in hospital and retail pharmacies. Pharmacy Technician is a category of support personnel and denotes a skilled worker who has been trained to assist the pharmacist in preparing and dispensing medications. This category of support personnel is spelled out in Oregon Administrative Rules 855-41-205 under the auspices of the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy. Program is not nationally accredited by a healthcare accrediting body.  Check with individual states for specific licensure or scope of practice requirements.

Please Note - this certificate is only offered on Even years. It is not offered each year but rather every other years. Please plan to complete the certificate in a year. 

Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the College's placement process to determine skill level and readiness in math and writing. As part of their training program, students must begin with the courses within their skill level as determined by the placement process. 

Due to the nature of this curriculum and the access to drugs, all students will have to declare themselves “drug free” and be subject to a criminal background check. Any student who is unable, for any reason, to complete the practicum parts of this curriculum will not be able to continue in the program. Drug testing will be done prior to clinical practicum. Graduates may choose to take a national certification examination at the successful conclusion of the program.

For more information contact the administrative assistant at 541-888-7443.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 52 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Twelve (12) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the Certificate of Completion is awarded.

Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• Function as a professional in a pharmacy environment either in a hospital or retail setting.
• Assist the pharmacist in the preparation and dispensing of medications.
• Be aware of the duties and limitations of a pharmacy technician as per Oregon Administrative Rules 855-41-205.

Math and writing placement are unique to each student and are determined during the admissions and intake advising process.  Additional math or writing courses may be required prior to taking the math or writing program requirements in this degree. 

Program Guide

Plan of Study Grid

Fall		Credits
PHAR100	Intro to Pharmacy: Practice and Law	4
AH111	Medical Terminology I	3
AH121	Body Structures and Functions I 4	3
WR121Z	Composition I	4
MTH65	Beginning Algebra I 1	4
	Credits	18
Winter
PHAR105	Pharmacology I	3
PHAR115	Pharmacy Calculations	2
PHAR200	Pharmacy Technician Procedures I	4
AH112	Medical Terminology II	3
AH122	Body Structures and Functions II 4	3
BA285	Human Relations in Organizations 5	3
	Credits	18
Spring
COMM100Z	Introduction to Communication 2	4
PHAR110	Pharmacology II	3
PHAR205	Pharmacy Technician Procedures II	4
PHAR210	Pharmacy Records Management	3
PHAR280	CWE: Pharmacy 3	3
	Credits	17
	Total Credits	53

¹

MTH82, MTH95, or higher, excluding MTH211, may be substituted for MTH65.

²

COMM111Z, COMM218Z, COMM219 will satisfy this requirement.

³

Call 541-888-7405 to schedule with Internship Coordinator three months prior to term. The student will need to receive their Temporary License from the Oregon Board of Pharmacy (https://www.oregon.gov/pharmacy/pages/licensing.aspx) before registering for the internship.

⁴

BI231, BI232, BI233 completed sequence may be substituted for AH121/122.

⁵

Any PSY or SOC course above a 100-level or BA120 may be substituted.