Pharmacy Technician
Program Description
Pharmacy technicians are an important part of the healthcare field, and assist licensed pharmacists with dispensing prescription medications in the pharmacy setting. The Pharmacy Technician program will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to become a registered pharmacy technician and work in the dynamic field of pharmacy.
Minneapolis College’s pharmacy technician students complete an internship with a local retail or healthcare setting pharmacy. This hands-on training will prepare you for employment as a registered pharmacy technician after only one semester of coursework.
Advantages
- You will gain hands-on experience working in one of our partner retail or healthcare pharmacies in an 80-hour internship.
- You can complete your certificate in as little as one semester.
- You will gain hands-on experience working in one of our partner retail pharmacies in an 80-hour internship.
- Minneapolis College's program was developed in conjunction with community partners, taking into careful consideration the current workforce needs of retail pharmacies.
- This program will allow you to develop an individual pathway towards further healthcare career goals.
- Minneapolis College’s program was developed in conjunction with community partners, taking into careful consideration the current workforce needs of retail and healthcare pharmacies.
Program Details
Award Requirements and Course Descriptions & Outlines
Please select the award below to view the degree options and requirements in the college catalog.
What Will You Learn
- You will be trained to work in a retail pharmacy.
- You will gain an understanding of ethics and patient confidentiality.
- You will learn principles of common human diseases and their pharmaceutical treatments and examine social influences on diseases and treatment.
- You will develop a critical eye to detail and organizational skills.
- You will gain hands-on experience in using syringes and managing other compounding devices.
Beyond-the-Classroom Opportunities
This program includes an internship with a local retail pharmacy such as Target, Walgreens or other retailers.
Professional Licensure or Certification Disclosure
The Minneapolis College Pharmacy Technician curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional licensure exam for Minnesota. At this time, Minneapolis College is unable to make a determination if the Pharmacy Technician program meets the licensing requirement for any state or US protectorate besides Minnesota. You will want to contact the licensing board in which state you intend to pursue licensure for their requirements.
If you have further questions about licensure for Pharmacy Technician, please feel free to reach out to Heidi Aldes, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management, and they will be happy to help you.
For more information on licensure outside of Minnesota, please contact the licensing board in the state you would like to practice.
Occupational Outlook
Employment in Pharmacy Technician is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than average for all occupations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Increasing demand for prescription medications will contribute to more demand for pharmaceutical services and Pharmacy Technicians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, reports the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $32,700 in May 2018.
Potential Job Titles
- Pharmacy Technician
- Community Pharmacy Technician
Where You Could Work
- Retail pharmacies
- General merchandise pharmacies
- Grocery store pharmacies
- Drugstore pharmacies
- Hospital pharmacies
- Clinic pharmacies