Pharmacy Technician Details

• Start your health care career as a Pharmacy Technician in single, 15-week semester
• Experiential sites are with potential employers, giving you real-life, practical experience
• Courses are taught by licensed pharmacists, with certified pharmacy technicians assisting in the simulation lab

Note: None of the coursework for the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program will count towards any pre-Pharmacy coursework.

A Pharmacist is one who is licensed to prepare and dispense medications, counsel patients, and monitor outcomes of a prescription from a licensed health professional; students wishing to become a pharmacist would enroll in Schoolcraft’s Associate Degree Program in Pre-Pharmacy.

A Pharmacy Technician is an individual working in a pharmacy who, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, assists in activities not requiring the professional judgment of a pharmacist; also called the pharmacy tech or tech; students wishing to become a pharmacy technician would enroll in the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program.

A pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist in many ways:

In a drug store setting, technicians:

• prepare and dispense prescription medications
• help patients maneuver through insurance issues for payment

In a hospital setting, technicians:

• also make intravenous (I.V.) drugs for patients that are in the hospital
• fill drug dispensing machines or medication carts.   

All of these activities require a knowledge of drugs and how they work.

The program is designed to prepare those students who are interested in starting a career as a licensed pharmacy technician in one (single semester) or several (two semesters) pharmacy practice settings:

• Community pharmacy (drug store, clinic pharmacy, grocery, department)
• Hospital pharmacy
• Compounding pharmacy
• Specialty pharmacy (specialty drugs, long term care, intravenous prep centers)

Instructors are licensed pharmacists with certified pharmacy technicians assisting in the simulation lab.

Students can complete the skills certificate in the Pharmacy Technician Program for a single practice setting in a single, 15-week semester, or spread the coursework over multiple semesters, with timing of completion established by the student. There is availability of continued education for additional practice settings, which would allow students to earn a full certificate from the Pharmacy Technician Program.

Coursework is comprised of:

• Classroom education
• Simulation pharmacy lab
• Practical experience:with potential employers

Completion of the program will prepare students for:

• Taking the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Board (PTCB) exam, which can be taken at the Schoolcraft College Testing Center
• Students who pass the PTCB exam are eligible to apply for licensure as a pharmacy technician in the state of Michigan
• Students will earn either a Skills Certificate for the 15-week, single practice setting coursework, or a full Certificate when completing an additional semester that focuses on an additional practice settings

As pharmacies expand patient care services, the role of—and need for— pharmacy technicians will grow. Job prospects are projected to increase 12% faster than the national average through 2026.

Following are the estimated program costs for a single semester skills certificate:

*Estimate of Tuition and Fees is based on 16 credit hours and does not include textbooks, exam or license fees. The above figures are based on 2021-22 rates and are subject to change.

Note: Students may take the pharmacy technician certification exam after one semester and are trained to work in one practice setting (i.e. a drug store or a hospital).

Following are the estimated program costs for a two-semester full certificate:

*Estimate of Tuition and Fees is based on 29 credit hours and does not include textbooks, exam or license fees. The above figures are based on 2021-22 rates and are subject to change.

Note: Students who earn the full certificate are trained to work in any practice setting (i.e. a drug store, hospital or other settings).

A Skills Certificate can be completed in as little as one, 15-week semester, with all required courses for the Skills Certificate offered in both the Fall and Winter semesters of each year. 

• Classes meet on Monday morning, Tuesday morning or afternoon, and Wednesday morning, allowing you to continue working while attending classes.
• The Certification Exam can be taken right at the Schoolcraft Testing Center
• Structured program and licensed pharmacist instructors guide you through all coursework
• Certified pharmacy technicians assist in learning actual skills

Prior to starting the program, pharmacy technician students must complete the following

• Proof of immunizations including Hepatits B ; criminal history background check ; HIPAA acknowledgement.
• Criminal Background Check – Schoolcraft College will process a criminal background check as part of the program’s enrollment process.
• Mandatory orientation

Forms will be distributed at orientation or can be picked up at the Radcliff Center Administrative office prior to Orientation.

A minimum of a 2.5 grade is required to pass this course.

Supplemental costs associated with this course

• Required immunizations
• Book, including online access code
• Scrubs ($10 from bookstore)

Time commitment for this course

• (Mondays 9:00am – 1:00pm) and study time

A minimum of a 2.5 grade is required to pass this course.

Supplemental costs associated with this course

• Book, including online access code
• Scrubs ($10 from bookstore)

Time commitment for this course

• (Wednesdays 9:00am – Noon) and study time

A minimum of a 2.5 grade is required to pass this course.

Supplemental costs associated with this course

• Book, including online access code
• Scrubs ($10 from bookstore)

Time commitment for this course

• (Tuesdays 8:00am – 1:00pm) and study time

Prior to the first day of class, all students enrolled in PHT 116 must complete the following, or defer enrollment of this class to a subsequent semester; no students will be allowed to enter this course after the start of the first day of class:

• mandatory drug screening at any Concentra laboratory location (The cost of the drug screening is included in your tuition/fees for this class.)
• apply for a pharmacy technician license, including a temporary pharmacy technician license on LARA.org

Additional Requirements

Depending on the location that the student completes the practical portion of the program, they may be required to provide proof of vaccinations (e.g. Proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella as well as a record of a Tetanus shot; if there is any risk of blood or body fluid exposure, proof of a hepatitis B vaccination, a positive titer or a signed declination may be required); costs for these additional requirements are the responsibility of the student and not included in the cost of the program.

A minimum of a 2.5 grade is required to pass this course.

Supplemental costs associated with this course

• pharmacy technician license application fee ($106.00); this will include your temporary pharmacy technician license
• fee for fingerprinting as part of the pharmacy technician license application ($63)
• TB Test (if not current) – approx. $30

Time commitment for this course

• Thursday and Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm for onsite practicals
• plus one hour of in-class time at Radcliff, as arranged by the course instructor

A minimum of a 2.5 grade is required to pass this course.

Supplemental costs associated with this course

• Book, including online access code
• Scrubs ($10 from bookstore)

Time commitment for this course

• (Wednesdays 1:00- 6:00pm) and study time

Prior to the first day of class, all students enrolled in PHT 126 must complete the following, or defer enrollment of this class to a subsequent semester; no students will be allowed to enter this course after the start of the first day of class:

• mandatory drug screening at any Concentra laboratory location (The cost of the drug screening is included in your tuition/fees for this class.)
• apply for a pharmacy technician license, including a temporary pharmacy technician license on LARA.org

Additional Requirements:

Depending on the location that the student completes the practical portion of the program, they may be required to provide proof of vaccinations (e.g. Proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella as well as a record of a Tetanus shot; if there is any risk of blood or body fluid exposure, proof of a hepatitis B vaccination, a positive titer or a signed declination may be required); costs for these additional requirements are the responsibility of the student and not included in the cost of the program.

A minimum of a 2.5 grade is required to pass this course.

Supplemental costs associated with this course

• pharmacy technician license application fee ($106.00); this will include your temporary pharmacy technician license
• fee for fingerprinting as part of the pharmacy technician license application ($63)
• TB Test (if not current) – approx. $30

Time commitment for this course

• Thursday and Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm for onsite practicals
• plus one hour of in-class time at Radcliff, as arranged by the course instructor

A minimum of a 2.5 grade is required to pass this course.

Supplemental costs associated with this course

• No new books required

Time commitment for this course

• (Tuesdays 1:00-5:00pm) and study time