The Pharmacy Technician Program will be running again – starting February 27, 2007 – April 10, 2007 for 12 weeks Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

“This flexible short-term program allows more individuals the opportunity to enter the health care careers,” said Dr. Anita K. McCain, Dean of Academic Services of St. Vincent’s College. 

Dr. McCain said a key factor in the decision to offer the Pharmacy Tech program was the employment opportunities available to graduates. 

“Employment for these technicians is expected to grow at a much faster rate than all occupations through 2014. As the population ages the demand for pharmaceuticals will increase dramatically. This increased demand will spur an increased demand for technicians in all practice settings,” she said.  

Virginia Stoeffel, Director of the College’s Continuing Education division, said that pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other health care products to patients. 

“Pharmacy technicians who work in retail or mail-order pharmacies have varying responsibilities, depending on State rules and regulations. In hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities, technicians have added responsibilities, including reading patients’ charts and preparing and delivering the medicine to patients,” Stoeffel said.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians held about 258,000 jobs in 2004. About 7 out of 10 jobs were in retail pharmacies, either independently owned or part of a drugstore chain, grocery store, department store, or mass retailer. About 2 out of 10 jobs were in hospitals and a small proportion was in mail-order and Internet pharmacies. 

With advances in science, more medications are becoming available to treat a greater number of conditions. Prospects for pharmacy technicians are good and growing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Development of new treatments for illness also will drive employment for those interested in pharmacy tech careers.

In addition, cost-conscious insurers, pharmacies, and health systems will continue to expand the role of technicians. As a result, pharmacy technicians will assume responsibility for some of the more routine tasks previously performed by pharmacists.

Pharmacy technicians also will need to learn and master new pharmacy technology as it emerges. For example, robotic machines are being increasingly used to dispense medicine into containers; technicians must oversee the machines, stock the bins, and label the containers.

“While automation is increasingly incorporated into the job, it will not necessarily reduce the need for these technicians,” said Stoeffel, noting that students will have the unique opportunity to observe a retail, hospital and nuclear pharmacy environment.

Click Here to go to the Pharmacy Technician page to learn more about the certificate.