Pharmacy Technician
About Pharmacy Technician
The Pharmacy Technician Program at Orange Technical College is delivered in a competency-based, traditional classroom environment and is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). The program is also approved by the Florida Board of Pharmacy. Classes are offered on the Main Campus for adult students and offered on both Main and Avalon Campuses for dual enrollment students.
Graduates who wish to work as Pharmacy Technicians in the State of Florida must register with the Board of Pharmacy in accordance with Florida Statute 465.014. Supervised externships in pharmacy settings are an essential component of the program, providing students with real-world experience in retail, specialty, and hospital environments. All students are required to complete criminal history screening and drug testing prior to program entry and again before beginning their externship.
The mission of this program is to prepare students for employment in all aspects of Pharmacy Technician practice settings.
Program Structure
| Postsecondary Program of Study | OCP | Course | Hours |
| Basic Healthcare Worker | A* | HSC0003 | 90 |
| Pharmacy Technician 1 | B | PTN0084 | 360 |
| Pharmacy Technician 2 | B | PTN0085 | 300 |
| Pharmacy Technician 3 | B | PTN0086 | 300 |
Dual Enrollment is available for high school students. View the Dual Enrollment at OTC video playlist.
Additional Program Details
Training includes a comprehensive range of topics essential to pharmacy practice, including:
- Medical terminology
- Pharmacology and drug classifications
- Pharmacy law and regulatory compliance
- Pharmaceutical compounding
- Sterile technique, IV preparation, and chemotherapy handling
- Medication delivery systems and unit-dose packaging
- Patient record systems and prescription processing
- Pharmacy calculations
- Medication purchasing, receiving, and inventory management
- Pharmaceutical automation and technology
- Computer applications in pharmacy practice
- Employability, leadership, and professional communication skills
This curriculum ensures that students develop the knowledge, technical skills, and professional competencies required for success in modern pharmacy environments.
Program Structure Details
Occupational Completion Points (OCPs) - The Pharmacy Technician program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of two Occupational Completion Points. OCPs provide a student with early completion training options linked to employment opportunities established by the Florida Department of Education based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and accepted industry titles. Academic skill level required to complete program: Grade 10 language, reading, and grade 11 math.
* OCP A, Basic Healthcare Worker, is the foundation of the majority of health-related programs of study. If the student has high school credit for Health Science I and Health Science 2 or an applicant can demonstrate the skills in those courses through a written and performance test for OCP A, the student may start with OCP B, Pharmacy Technician 1.
Industry Certification/Licensure
Upon successful completion of this program, students will take the following:
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
- Register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy as a Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPT)
Articulation
The State Board of Education has approved statewide articulation agreements to provide credit for successful completion of industry certification through the Gold Standard program.
Valencia College:
- Supervision and Management for Industry A.S. degree – Up to 24 credits
Program Cost
*Subject to change
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