Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians are the front-line providers in retail pharmacies, but they also work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and compounding pharmacies, serving as the link between patients, doctors, pharmacists and insurance providers. Through labs in our simulated classroom pharmacy and a 202.5-hour clinical internship in a real pharmacy environment.

Pharmacy Technicians 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 a nationally Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and allows you to practice in the State of Colorado.

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

Graduates use their certificate to work in:

Retail chain pharmacies
Home health care agencies
Local hospitals
Long term care facilities
Mail order drug companies

Other potential career paths include jobs in specialty pharmacy settings such as compounding, home infusion and closed-door refill centers.

Thinking about applying? Get the program checklist or flyer.

All programs in the College of Health, Sciences and Administration require a criminal background check, a drug test and proof of vaccinations. Click here for a full list of disqualifying offenses.

Health & Wellness

$3,392

Approximate cost. Additional material and book fees may apply

3 Months

Part Time
Program length

1/10/2023

Next Start Date

Apply to Emily Griffith Technical College

Course Information

Required Courses

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
PHT 1011	Introduction to Pharmacy	3
PHT 1012	Pharmacy Law and Ethics	2
PHT 1013	Communication and Professionalism for Pharmacy Technicians	1
PHT 1014	Computer Skills for Pharmacy Technicians	1
PHT 1015	Pharmacology I	3
PHT 1016	Pharmacology II	3
PHT 1020	Medical Insurance Procedures	1
PHT 1035	Pharmaceutical Calulations and Compounding Techniques	4
PHT 1040	Institutional Pharmacy	3
PHT 1041	Community Pharmacy	3
PHT 1070	Clinical: Internship	4.5

PHT 1011 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: 01/10/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1012 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: 01/12/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1013 Communication and Professionalism for Pharmacy Technicians

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 communication. 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: 01/31/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1014 Computer Skills for Pharmacy Technicians

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: 03/07/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1015 Pharmacology I

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: 02/14/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1016 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: 03/21/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1020 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: 03/07/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1035 Pharmaceutical Calulations and Compounding 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: 04/06/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1040 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: 04/04/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1041 Community Pharmacy

Explores the role of pharmacy technicians and the practice of pharmacy in the community and other outpatient pharmacy settings. This course covers community pharmacy organization, workflow, terminology, inventory management, third-party billing, and packaging and preparation of prescriptions for out-patient dispensing. This course includes a hands-on simulation component in preparation for community pharmacy practice.

Start Date: 02/21/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

PHT 1070 Clinical: Internship

Offers the clinical practicum required for the program.

Start Date: 06/01/2023

Instructor: Caroline Smith

EMILY’S STORIES

"It has been my desire to succeed in life and I believe that having a good education is the foundation of good success."

Lillian is a graduate of our HSE program. Lillian is originally from Nigeria and came to Denver in 2016. She came to Emily Griffith to continue her education. The GED program was her starting point and her goal was to then continue to CNA and then LPN and from there additional training in nursing if she has the chance.

Lillian says her husband encouraged her and helped explain concepts. Laura Blom gave her textbooks to practice reading, Martha in the SSC was really helpful as well. Lilian used the SSC to get help with math questions and Martha would help her out, and Laura was always there and she approached her on breaks to ask questions. The encouragement she received was really important to staying positive and ultimately achieving her goal.

Lillian passed her GED and she is now preparing to apply to the CNA program! “It has been my desire to succeed in life and I believe that having a good education is the foundation of good success,” says Lillian. “I would like to thank Laura, and Emily Griffith for showing me the way and for providing me the opportunity to achieve one of my goals.”

Congratulations Lillian!

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