Pharmacy Technician Associate of Applied Science Degree

Program Overview

Major ID: 310A

Program Start Dates: Fall - General Education credits can be taken any term

Pharmacy technicians play an integral role in assisting pharmacists with medication dispensing. Pharmacy technicians work in hospitals, drug stores, and other medical settings. Pharmacy technicians perform a variety of duties that require strong attention to detail. Pharmacy Technicians perform duties such as, entering prescription orders into the computer, preparing medications for pharmacist verification (including measuring and sometimes mixing the medication), maintaining accurate patient records, performing calculations, and providing customer service.

This program prepares students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.

Career Opportunities

Pharmacy technicians work in hospitals, drug stores, specialty pharmacies, and insurance company settings. Employment projections indicate an increase of 32% from 2010 to 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Program Outcomes

1. Display personal and interpersonal knowledge including communication, conflict resolution, critical thinking skills, customer service, supervisory skills, and teamwork.  
2. Analyze the pharmacy technician’s role in the medication use process for achieving advanced competencies in calculations, law, drug therapies, and disease prevention programs.  
3. Prepare, process, and handle medications and medication orders using technology and advanced knowledge of administration, billing, compounding, purchasing, and inventory in hospital pharmacy and other advanced settings.  
4. Demonstrate patient care, quality and safety knowledge that support the pharmacist’s care process, product verification, point of care testing, sterile compounding, and pharmaceutical operations.  
5. Evaluate regulatory knowledge that demonstrates compliance with state and federal pharmacy law, OSHA, NIOSH, USP and current initiatives in pharmacy.  
6. Prepare to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam.​ 

Program Faculty

Sabrina Hemmerling
sabrina.hemmerling@saintpaul.edu

Additional Program Material Costs

Students should expect to spend approximately $750.00 beyond the cost of tuition and fees for books, supplies, uniforms, parking at internship site, and professional fees. There are additional fees for the certification exam and board of pharmacy registration (see below).

Licenses/Testing

• Certification Exam $129.00
• Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Registration $60

Program Guidelines

1. Attend required orientation session after program acceptance.
2. Must complete vaccination requirements directed by faculty at required program orientation session.
3. Must pass MN Department of Health and Human Services Background study.
4. Complete Basic Life Support for Healthcare provider (BLS) before the end first semester pharmacy courses.
5. Complete 10 panel drug screen. 

Transfer Opportunities 

Saint Paul College has transfer agreements & partnerships between many post-secondary institutions. For more information please go to saintpaul.edu/Transfer.