The Pharmacy Technology diploma program is designed to enable the student to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes for employment within a pharmacy. Program graduates will be able to perform a variety of technical duties related to preparing and dispensing drugs in accordance with standard procedures and laws under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. A variety of clinical experiences are designed to integrate theory and practice.
The mission of the Pharmacy Technology program is to produce caring, competent, trustworthy and certified Pharmacy Technology graduates.
Students will be accepted into the Pharmacy Technology diploma program each fall semester. A full-time student can complete this program in 4 semesters. At the end of the final term of the Pharmacy Technology diploma program, students will be eligible to sit for the PTCE (Pharmacy Technology Certification Exam). To graduate, a student must earn a minimum of 56 semester credit hours.
Employment Outlook
Career Traits/Requirements
Individuals wanting to enroll in the Pharmacy Technology diploma program must have good work ethics, be people-oriented and possess great organizational skills. Instruction and practical application of learned skills provide a broad occupational background which appeals to prospective employers.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the Pharmacy Technology program are prepared for responsible employment positions in hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and retail pharmacies.
Additional information regarding employment, regulations, certification, job outlook and salary may be found at: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Georgia Board of Pharmacy Registration Information
Program Costs
Tuition & Fees: $6,925.00
Books & Supplies: $2,000.00
(Costs are estimated and are subject to change.)
Additional Fees:
Malpractice Insurance: $11.00
Drug Screen: $50.00
Criminal Background Check: $51.50
PTCE Application Fee: $129.00
BLS for Healthcare Provider: $7.00
Georgia State Board of Pharmacy Registration: $100.00
GAPS Background Check: $36.25
HCA Clinical Fee: $59.50
(Costs are estimated and are subject to change.)
HOPE Career Grant: The HOPE Career Grant, formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with one of 12 industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them. To qualify, an OFTC student must be fully admitted to the college, enrolled in one of the approved programs and receiving the HOPE Grant for the same term. The amount of the HOPE Career Grant award is a fixed amount for each term of enrollment:
- 9 or more credit hours – $500/semester
- 3-8 credit hours – $250/semester
- 1-2 credit hours – $125/semester
- Commercial Truck Driving – $1,000 one time award
High School students in dual enrollment and joint enrollment are NOT eligible for HOPE Career Grant.
Admission Requirements
OFTC may accept a student’s official entrance score on the following validated assessment instruments if the scores meet the required minimums:
- COMPASS/ASSET,
- SAT,
- ACT,
- PSAT,
- PACT,
- Accuplacer/Accuplacer Next Generation/Companion,
- HOPE GPA after completion of 10th grade of 2.6 or higher, or High School GPA of 2.6 (for occupational programs), or 2.0 for Workforce Entry Level programs, or GED.
The College may accept transfer credit for other courses according to the College’s transfer policy.
Competitive Admission Requirements
All steps of the competitive selection process must be completed for students to be considered for admission into program classes. Access links and forms for Competitive Admissions Programs.
Students must complete an application to compete for their name to be placed on the list of potential program students. Students without an application on file will NOT be considered for program competition. Applications signify that the student has completed or will complete the designated courses by the designated deadline and understands the deadlines for official college transcripts. If more students apply to compete than there are seats available, the competitive process is followed with the exception of TEAS testing.
Students must successfully complete the following designated courses (ALHS 1011, ALHS 1040, ALHS 1090, COLL 1060, ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, and PSYC 1010) prior to taking pharmacy technology occupational classes.
Student/Graduate Achievement
For the years 2017 – 2021, 99.3% of OFTC graduates passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam.
Accreditation
The Pharmacy Technology diploma program offered by Oconee Fall Line Technical College is accredited by ASHP (American Society for Health System Pharmacists) and ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) upon recommendation of the ASHP and ACPE Boards of Directors. More information on this accrediting body can be found at www.ashp.org.
Curriculum
General Education Courses
Occupational Courses
| COLL 1060 | Introduction to College and Computers | 3 | 50 |
| ALHS 1011 | Structure and Function of the Human Body | 5 | 75 |
| ALHS 1040 | Introduction to Health Care | 3 | 75 |
| PHAR 1000 | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 4 | 60 |
| PHAR 1010 | Pharmacy Technology Fundamentals | 5 | 90 |
| PHAR 1020 | Principals of Dispensing Medications | 4 | 90 |
| PHAR 1030 | Principles of Sterile Medication Preparation | 4 | 90 |
| PHAR 1040 | Pharmacology | 4 | 60 |
| PHAR 1050 | Pharmacy Technology Clinical | 5 | 225 |
| PHAR 2060 | Advanced Pharmacy Technology Principals | 3 | 60 |
| PHAR 2070 | Advanced Pharmacy Technology Clinical | 5 | 225 |
Choose one of the following:
| ALHS 1090 | Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences | 2 | 30 |
| BUSN 2300 | Medical Terminology | 2 | 30 |
Program Pathway
Fall Start
Semester 1
Choose one of the following:
| ALHS 1090 | Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences | 2 | 30 |
| BUSN 2300 | Medical Terminology | 2 | 30 |
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Semester 5
| PHAR 1020 | Principals of Dispensing Medications | 4 | 90 |
| PHAR 1030 | Principles of Sterile Medication Preparation | 4 | 90 |
| PHAR 1050 | Pharmacy Technology Clinical | 5 | 225 |
Semester 6
| PHAR 2060 | Advanced Pharmacy Technology Principals | 3 | 60 |
| PHAR 2070 | Advanced Pharmacy Technology Clinical | 5 | 225 |