Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians play an important role in assisting licensed pharmacists in a variety of settings, including retail pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics. You will be a successful pharmacy technician if you:

• are a person of character with honesty and integrity
• are detail oriented and able to work on a team
• use sequential and logical thinking skills to work step-by-step to complete a task
• are able to communicate effectively (both verbal and written)
• have good math skills
• have the ability to perform repetitive tasks accurately
• can function in areas where confidentiality is of the utmost importance
• can work under stress
• takes initiative to get the job done

START HERE: Please follow the steps on the Get Started Checklist (PDF) to complete the program application process.

Admissions Resources:

• Student Health Statement & TB Documentation (PDF)
• Professional Awareness (PDF)
• Online Program Application
• Digital Resume
• Essential Functions (PDF)
• CPR Training

Pharmacy technicians are in demand in Nebraska and the United States. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Outlook indicates that “employment” for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2022. Recent SCC graduates report an average annual starting salary of $34,320. Many employers provide some type of fringe benefits and 24-hour, 7 days per week flexibility for scheduling work hours. A pharmacy technician works under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist and may perform these duties:

• Receive and verify prescriptions
• Prepare sterile and non-sterile medications for patients
• Price and fill prescriptions
• Complete patient paperwork
• Process insurance claims
• Take inventory and stock medications

According to federal regulations [34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), and guidance from the Department of Education, if a non-degree program (diploma, certificate) does not fully transfer to an associate degree, that program is subject to a specific calculation that will establish how many credits within the program are eligible for federal financial aid. The amount of aid available to the student is determined based on those eligible credits, and the student’s enrollment status (full-time, ¾ time, half-time, less-than-half-time).

So, what does this mean?
If a student enrolls in one of the programs subject to the calculation, federal financial aid may be limited. You will be responsible for the tuition and fees for the number of credits not covered by financial aid.

Please refer to the SCC catalog for current program requirements.

The Southeast Community College Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by:

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20814
866-279-0681

Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
190 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60603-3499
312-664-3575

Program Outcomes (PDF)

SCC is a PTCB recognized education/training program. PTCB requires applicants for PTCB Credentials, including CPhT, CSPT, and specified Assessment-Based Certificate Programs, to complete a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program or to complete another pathway.

The States where the program’s curriculum meets the requirements of that State – Nebraska.

Students graduating from SCC’s Pharmacy Tech program will sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, which is accepted in all 50 States and Puerto Rico. The exam is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. The program is accredited by ASHP/ACPE (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists).

Other States may have additional educational requirements, and SCC has not made a determination on whether or not the curriculum of this program meets the educational requirements of any other State.