Pharmacy Technician Course Descriptions

PT 101: Introduction to Pharmacy
This course offers an overview of the pharmacy profession as it relates to pharmacy technicians. Topics covered include the historical evolution of pharmacy practice, contemporary practice settings, basic job responsibilities, national certification, and professional organizations and resources available to pharmacy technicians. In addition, this course will survey the major federal laws, regulatory agencies, and ethical principles which standardize the practice of pharmacy.
PT 102: Fundamental Pharmacy Concepts
This course establishes the primary knowledge base required to work in a pharmacy-based practice setting. Topics covered include pharmaceutical dosage forms, routes of administration, pharmacy and medical terminology, pharmacy and medical abbreviations, and the basic elements of prescriptions, legend/over-the-counter drugs, and prescription labels, as required by law.
PT 103: Pharmacology
This course examines the human body and the study of drugs and their effect on the body. Topics covered include anatomy and physiology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, drug distribution, metabolism, drug dependency, and addiction. In addition, this course will cover the following body systems, as well as the classifications of drugs related to them: the skin, eyes and ears, the gastrointestinal system, the musculoskeletal system, the respiratory system, the cardiovascular/circulatory system, the immune system, the renal system, the endocrine system, the reproductive system, and the nervous system.
PT 104: Top 200 Drugs
The course prepares the student to understand and handle the most commonly prescribed prescription drugs. The uses, origins, name categories, and classifications of drugs will be covered, as well as the trade name, generic name, classification, use(s), available strength(s), and available dosage format(s) of each of the top 200 drugs prescribed.
PT 105: Pharmaceutical Calculation
This course prepares the student to perform a wide variety of pharmaceutical calculations, in addition to reviewing basic math principles. Topics covered include basic algebra, ratios/proportions, systems of measurement, measurement conversions, dosage calculations, concentrations, dilutions, alligations, IV flow rates, milliequivalents, and math related to basic accounting and pharmacy operations.
PT 106: Community Pharmacy Practice
This course explores community-based pharmacy practice, including retail pharmacies, independent pharmacies, and chain drug stores. Topics covered include an overview of community pharmacy practice settings, the organization and structure of community pharmacies, job responsibilities, processing prescriptions, filling prescriptions, insurance billing, the refill/transfer of prescriptions, inventory management, automation/robotics, over-the-counter medications, over-the-counter medical devices and products, patient diversity, and customer service.
PT 107: Community Pharmacy Externship (optional)*
This highly recommended course provides the student with hands-on, real-world experience and training at a local community pharmacy. This is a 160-hour, non-paid externship. The student will be able to participate in daily pharmacy operations and utilize the information covered in previous courses.
PT 108: Health-System Pharmacy Practice
This course explores health-system pharmacy practice, including hospitals, institutions, and long-term care facilities. Topics covered include an overview of health-system pharmacy practice settings, the organization and structure of health-system pharmacies, job responsibilities, policy and procedure manuals, dispensing systems, automation and robotics, bar-coding technology, processing medication orders, filling medication orders, inventory management, an introduction to sterile products and aseptic technique, medication errors, and teamwork and communication.
PT 109: Health-System Pharmacy Externship (optional)*
This highly recommended course provides the student with hands-on, real-world experience and training at a local health-system pharmacy. This is a 160-hour, non-paid externship. The student will be able to participate in daily pharmacy operations and utilize the information covered in previous courses.

*Students will be responsible for securing appropriate pharmacy sites to complete both components of the externship requirements of the program. If students experience difficulty in securing externship sites, they may seek guidance from their Kaplan University Academic Advisor. Pharmacy Technician Certificate externship sites may require students to comply with background check, employment verification, immunization, and drug screen requirements before they may begin their externship. Students may also be required by a pharmacy site to secure professional liability insurance, which students must obtain at their own expense.