Manchester Community College

This comprehensive course will prepare students to enter the pharmacy field and to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam. Technicians work in hospitals, home infusion pharmacies, community pharmacies and other healthcare settings - working under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Course content includes medical terminology specific to the pharmacy, reading and interpreting prescriptions and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Students will learn dosage calculations, I.V. flow rates, drug compounding, dose conversions, dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control and billing and reimbursement.

This course is 84 hours of classroom instruction. Students must be at least 18 years of age and have completed high school or equivalent.

Though the employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations, increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services in the future. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $33,950 in May 2019. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Required Text:

Mosby’s Pharmacy Technician Principles and Practice 6th edition

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0323734073
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0323734073

Complete Math Review for the Pharmacy Technician 5th Edition

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1582123144
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1582123141

About the instructor:

Ralph graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 1981. Began his career in Independent Pharmacies, then chain pharmacy both as Pharmacy Manager then Pharmacy Supervisor.  Began practicing Managed Care as Pharmacy Manager for a large labor union health and welfare, then at the end of his pharmacy practice as Pharmacy Manager for Long Term Care Pharmacy.

Ralph is now retired but is instructing potential Certified Pharmacy Technicians. Ralph was on the Board of Directors for the Boston Druggists Association from 2008-2018 as well as a long-time member. Ralph also served on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association from 2009-2018 Ralph was also a preceptor and adjunct instructor for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University and actively involved with their alumni association.

This course is WIOA Approved.