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 $26,520. 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

Federal regulations [34CFR 668.8(k) and (l)] mandate that programs not leading to a degree, and all the courses within the program are not fully transferable to a higher degree, can only partially be paid by federal student aid. A specific federal formula determines the number of credits allowed to be paid by financial aid. At SCC, those programs and the number of credits eligible for federal financial aid are:

Based on federal regulations, the Pharmacy Technician program has determined the following courses are not eligible for financial aid:
General Education Requirement – Speech or Written Communications (3 credits)
General Education Requirement – Career and Life Skills (3 credits)
PHRM1120 Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians (3 credits)

So, what does this mean?

If you enroll in one of the above-mentioned diploma programs, federal financial aid will not pay for the entire program. You will be responsible for the tuition and fees for the number of credits listed in the “Number of Credits Not Paid” column.

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.