Pharmacy Technician

Are you interested in health but don’t necessarily want to do hands-on care? A career as a pharmacy technician gives you the opportunity to help people and enter a high-demand profession—no direct patient treatment required.

What’s a “pharm tech”? Pharmacy technicians are the front-line providers in drug store, grocery and big-box store pharmacies, but they also work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, compounding pharmacies and other settings, serving as the link between patients, doctors, pharmacists and insurance providers. 

Through labs in our simulated classroom pharmacy and a clinical internship in a real pharmacy environment, Emily Griffith’s online/on-campus program prepares you with the medical knowledge and experience you need to become a well-respected member of a pharmacy team.

National certification

Emily Griffith has the only nationally accredited pharmacy technician program in the Denver area. Those new to the field must complete a program from an accredited institution in order to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) certification exam. Passing this exam qualifies you as nationally Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and allows you to practice in the State of Colorado.

Accreditation: ASHP/ACPE

Clinical placement: Complete a 200-hour clinical internship in a setting such as a King Soopers, Safeway, Albertsons, CVS or Walgreens pharmacy.

Facilities: Take part in a Pharmacy Technician Boot Camp in Emily Griffith’s simulated pharmacy, practicing skills you’ll need as a professional pharm tech.

Want more information? Get the Pharmacy Technician Program Flyer, the Pharmacy Technician Program Checklist.

What Can I Do with an Emily Griffith Pharmacy Technician Certificate?

Graduates from Emily Griffith’s pharmacy technician program have gone on to these jobs:

  • Pharmacy technician, Walmart Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy technician, Parker Adventist Hospital
  • Enterprise application analyst, Children’s Health
  • Pharmacy technician, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
  • Pharmacy technician, Walgreens
  • Pharmacy technician, King Soopers
  • Pharmacy technician, Safeway
  • Pharmacy technician, Albertsons
  • Pharmacy technician, CVS

Other potential career paths include jobs in specialty pharmacy settings such as compounding, home infusion, mail order, closed-door refill centers, and administrative roles computer troubleshooting, staff scheduling, recruiting in pharmacy operations, and corporate compliance.

Health & Wellness
$3,392
Approximate cost. Additional material and book fees may apply
3 Months
Full-time program length
8/17/2020
Next Start Date
Apply to Emily Griffith Technical College

Course Information

Required Courses

Course Code Course Title Credits
PHT 111 Introduction to Pharmacy 3
PHT 112 Pharmacy Law and Ethics 2
PHT 114 Computer Skills for Pharm Tech 1
PHT 115 Pharmacology l 3
PHT 116 Institutional Pharmacy 3
PHT 117 Comm. & Prffsnlsm for Pharm Techns 1
PHT 118 Pharmacology II 3
PHT 119 Community Pharmacy 3
PHT 120 Medical Insurance Procedures 1
PHT 170 Pharmacy Clinical: Institutional 5
PHT 235 Pharm Calcs/Cmpding Techniques 4
PHT 111 Introduction to Pharmacy

Introduces the practice of pharmacy and the work that pharmacy technicians perform. The course provides an overview of careers within the field; educational, certification and accreditation requirements; ethical and legal responsibilities; pharmacology; as well as a variety of issues that touch on attitudes, values and beliefs of successful pharmacy technicians.

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 112 Pharmacy Law and Ethics

Introduces the laws, regulations and agencies that pertain to pharmacy practice and the role that technicians play to ensure compliance. Establishes a foundation of ethical behavior and decision making and discusses the consequences of violating laws and ethical principles.

Start Date: 08/19/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 114 Computer Skills for Pharm Tech

Introduces basic pharmacy and computer terminology and applications of a pharmacy management system. Focuses on the practice of pharmacy and the multiple operations that contribute to safe and effective patient care, and discusses the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in computer-based systems. This course includes integration of an actual pharmacy operation application to allow hands-on technical experience.

Start Date: 09/08/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 115 Pharmacology l

Presents the fundamentals of pharmacology, the pharmacokinetic phases, and the basic concepts of normal body function. this course examines diseases which impact the various body systems and the drugs used to treat such diseases, emphasizing disease state management and drug therapy.

Start Date: 09/08/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 116 Institutional Pharmacy

Explores the role of pharmacy technicians and the practice of pharmacy in the institutional setting. This course covers institutional and pharmacy organization, terminology, medication distribution systems, packaging and preparation of intravenous admixtures. This course includes a hands-on simulation component in preparation for institutional practice.

Start Date: 10/05/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 117 Comm. & Prffsnlsm for Pharm Techns

Provides fundamental components of theoretical and applied aspects of personal and interpersonal communication related to pharmacy practice. Theoretical aspects include such topics as communication perceptions and barriers, listening, responding, assertiveness and non-verbal communicaton. Applied aspects include such techniques as role-playing group discussion and interviewing. This course also examines the methods and practice of interviewing with respect to the roles and functions of both interviewee and interviewer.

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 118 Pharmacology II

Examines the disease states which impact the various body systems and the drugs used to treat such diseases. This course emphasizes disease state management and drug therapy. Serves as the second part of the two-part presentation of the basic concepts of pharmacology.

Start Date: 10/05/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 119 Community Pharmacy

Provides a basic understanding of both general and specific tasks and responsibilities involved in the practice of pharmacy in a community setting. Emphasizes chain and independent community pharmacy practices and other related practice settings (such as consultant pharmacy, mail order pharmacy and nuclear pharmacy). Enables the student to obtain hands on experience in the important technical duties of dispensing and compounding. Utilizes a lecture-informal discussion format combined with a series of practice skills laboratory sessions

Start Date: 09/15/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 120 Medical Insurance Procedures

Provides a basic introduction to pharmacy reimbursement services. Defines and presents the processes involved in reimbursement for pharmacy products and services. Examines the health care insurance industry along with an overview of the three core functions of pharmacy reimbursement services - patient admission, verification of insurance, and billing procedures. Integrates an actual pharmacy operation application and allow students hands-on technical experience.

Start Date: 09/28/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 170 Pharmacy Clinical: Institutional

Provides an opportunity for the completion of practical work experience related to the educational program.

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
PHT 235 Pharm Calcs/Cmpding Techniques

Develops the skills necessary to perform calculations essential to the duties of pharmacy technicians in a variety of contemporary settings. This course also applies these skills in hands-on compounding of pharmaceutical products emphasizing the importance of accuracy, quality and infection control.

Start Date: 10/26/2020
Instructor: Ann Oberg
EMILY’S STORIES


“The first time I walked into class, I was like this is where I’m supposed to be."

Jessica Blackburn’s parents always encouraged her to find a skilled trade. “I always loved learning about the human body and how things work so part of me has always thought about being a nurse,” says Jessica. 

But training to be a nurse can be expensive. So she decided to come take her CNA classes at Emily Griffith. 

“The first time I walked into class, I was like this is where I’m supposed to be,” says Jessica. “The atmosphere is super friendly; I loved being in Mrs. Law’s class.” 

She was impressed by how much the class prepared her for her boards. “I was absolutely more confident in my skills than others taking the boards that day,” she says. 

She finished the program in October and began working as a home health aide. And more recently she got a job as a CNA in the telemetry unit at SCL Health Lutheran Medical Center, where she will be assisting with monitoring vital signs.  

She would definitely recommend the Emily Griffith CNA program to others. “It prepares you for the real world,” says Jessica. “It’s a welcoming place and they really want you to succeed.” 

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