Train for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician!
IBMC College Offers Pharmacy Technician Diploma and Degree Programs
If you are interested in a career in the healthcare field, maybe it’s time to consider training for a career as a pharmacy technician! Pharmacy technology is a growing sector of the healthcare field, and IBMC College, in Longmont, Colorado, offers Pharmacy Technician training programs that can prepare you to become a certified Pharmacy Technician in as few as 15 months!
What Is a Pharmacy Technician?
Pharmacy technicians are the health professionals who keep the pharmaceutical system running smoothly. Responsible for primarily administrative tasks, the pharmacy technician’s job can be challenging, but also highly rewarding. They establish and maintain patient record files, submit insurance claim forms, and manage prescription and over-the-counter medication inventories.
What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?
As a pharmacy technician, your job responsibilities may include:
- Filling prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist
- Utilizing software applications relevant to the pharmacy
- Understanding brand-name and generic medications, as well as OTC (Over-the-Counter) medications
- Understanding classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs
- Adherence to HIPAA, Federal, and State regulations concerning confidentiality in the medical field
What Skills Should I Have for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician?
The pharmacy technician is usually the first point-of-contact for customers, and so must have excellent interpersonal skills and excel in customer service. A pharmacy technician often acts as a point of communication between the medical team and the patient, so good communication skills are absolutely vital for a pharmacy technician. In addition, pharmacy technicians should also be very organized, have the ability to multitask, and be able to work both independently and as part of a team.
Where Do Pharmacy Technicians Work?
Pharmacy technicians are employed across the country, and graduates of pharmacy technician programs such as the one offered at IBMC College may find work in hospitals, nursing homes, retail pharmacies, insurance companies, mail-order and web-based pharmacies, long-term care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, or government agencies.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS 2024), employment for pharmacy technicians is projected to continue to grow at a steady rate of 7% over the coming decade, adding about 33,300 new jobs to the U.S. economy.
Where Can I Train for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician?
IBMC College offers a Pharmacy Technician diploma program designed to prepare graduates for CPhT certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), as well as apply for certification through the State of Colorado. IBMC College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and College (ACCSC) and is approved and regulated by the Division of Private Occupational Schools and the Department of Education in the State of Colorado. IBMC College’s Pharmacy Technician program is available at the Longmont campus.
What Will I Learn in IBMC College’s Pharmacy Technician Program?
At IBMC College, pharmacy technician students learn how to recognize the classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs, understand brand, generic, and OTC (over-the-counter) medications, adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations, utilize relevant software applications, fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, and comprehend and perform insurance procedures.
Will I Receive Hands-On Training at IBMC College?
Yes! All students in IBMC College’s Pharmacy Technician program complete an externship at a community pharmacy. Through the externship placement, students receive supervised instructional skills training and gain practical experience as they are able to develop their pharmacy skills in a practical or working pharmacy field environment under professional supervision. Students have the opportunity to apply professional skills learned in the classroom as they directly interact with clients/patients and other health care professionals.
How Long Is IBMC College’s Pharmacy Technician Program, and What Will I Get When I Graduate?
At IBMC College, we offer two Pharmacy Technician programs, a diploma program and a degree program. The essential Pharmacy Technician training content is delivered in the diploma program, and graduates are prepared for entry level pharmacy careers. The Pharmacy Technician Diploma program is achievable in as few as 15 months! The Pharmacy Technician Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Degree program offers more extensive education skills in communications as well as management skills in customer service, leadership, ethics and human resources. Additional degree classes can help students gain marketable skills that may give them a positive employer outlook for career advancement. The Pharmacy Technician AOS Degree program is achievable in as few as 20 months.
Upon completion of either program, graduates will be prepared to test for the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) as well as apply for certification through the State of Colorado.
Ready to Get Started on Your Way to a Pharmacy Technician Career!?
If you are ready to get started on your way to a career in this growing sector of the healthcare field, contact IBMC College today! With IBMC College, you will receive hands-on, practical instruction, under the guidance of professional faculty with true industry experience. Students benefit from our flexible schedules, limited class sizes, and a career services department that offers comprehensive career placement assistance. If you are ready to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician, contact IBMC College today!
