Deadline to apply to ACTC Pharmacy Technology program July 1

One-year program

ASHLAND, Ky. (June 13, 2016) — July 1 is the new deadline to apply for admission to the Pharmacy Technology program at Ashland Community and Technical College.

Pharmacy Technology offers a quick path into health care employment and can sometimes be the first step in becoming a pharmacist. Pharmacy Technicians are employed in community and hospital pharmacies, and jobs for Pharmacy Technicians in Kentucky are expected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022 according to KY Occupational Outlook. The average wage in 2013 was over $25,000.

Under the direction of a pharmacist, a Pharmacy Technologist transcribes physician’s medication orders, fills prescriptions and pharmacy orders prepares admixtures of intravenous solutions, replenishes drugs, maintains patient profiles, and prepares bulk formulations.

At ACTC, Pharmacy Technology is a one-year diploma program, and a Community Pharmacy Assistant Certificate is also available. The diploma and certificate credits may be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science Degree in General Occupational/Technical Studies.

The program includes lecture and laboratory classes in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical terminology, microbiology, dosage calculations, pharmacy mathematics, pharmacy practice, pharmacology, drug classifications and IV admixtures.

Students also learn how to communicate the correct medical abbreviations and medical terminologies with patients, customers and the pharmacists they are assisting.

“Through an externship with area pharmacies, students learn to apply their classroom skills in a job environment, and this can give them an edge when applying for a job,” said Nikki Bryant, associate professor and pharmacy program coordinator.

New students will need to submit both ACTC and Pharmacy Technology applications, which are available on line at: ashland.kctcs.edu.

For more information on Pharmacy Technology, email Bryant at 606-326-2261 or contact Roxanne Neal in the Health Science Division Office at 606-326-2086, or [email protected].