Pharmacy Technology Course Descriptions

Description of Core Courses:

  • HO 56 - Medication Calculations (9 weeks) (1.0 unit)
  • PHAR 50  - Pharmaceutical Calculations (9 weeks) (1.5 units)
  • PHAR 55  - (Formerly 60) Pharmacy Introduction (9 weeks) (1.5 units)
  • PHAR 56 - (Formerly 60L) Pharmacy Skills Lab (9 weeks) (1.0 unit)
  • PHAR 57 - (Formerly 62) Pharmacy Operations I (9 weeks) (1.5 unit)
  • PHAR 63 - Pharmacy Operations II (2.0 units)
  • PHAR 64 - Pharmacy Operations III (Sterile Compounding) (2.0 units)
  • PHAR 65 - Pharmacy Operation IV (Non-sterile Compounding) (2.0 units)
  • PHAR 81 - Over-the-counter Products (3.0 units)
  • PHAR 83 - Pharmacy Technician Pharmacology I (3.0 units)
  • PHAR 85 - Pharmacy Technician Pharmacology II (3.0 units)
  • PHAR 90 - Clinical Experience I (3.0 units)
  • PHAR 95 - Clinical Experience II (5.0 units)
  • MA 161 - Medical Terminology (3.0 units) **
  • A&P 120 - Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (4.0 units)

A&P 120: This course is designed as a survey of human anatomy and physiology. It covers the basic principles of human anatomy and physiology including a survey of the tissues, organ systems, and principal anatomical features. Emphasis is also placed on integrated organ system physiology, human genetics and development. (This course is designed primarily for non-biology majors.)

MA 161: This course will prepare the student in the correct use of medical terms, abbreviations, phraseology, and the understanding of word parts. It will include analyzing the terms by written and oral communication of the various systems of the body.

HO 56: This course presents skills and concepts utilized to calculate drug dosage. Problem solving, application of basic algebraic concepts, formulas, proportional relationships, systems of measurement, and measurement system conversions are included.

PHAR 50: This course is designed to improve the practical application of fundamentals of measurements and mathematics utilized by pharmacy technicians.

PHAR 55: This introductory course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the pharmacy profession and the role of the pharmacist and pharmacy technician in all pharmacy settings. Students will be introduced to pharmacy law and will learn how to read and process prescriptions.

PHAR 56: This course is designed to provide students with hands-on experience working with a computerized Pharmacy Management System as used in a comunity pharmacy setting.

PHAR 57: This course is designed for students to develop interpersonal communication skills needed to work in a pharmacy setting dealing with patients, pharmacists, and co-workers. PHAR 57 is meant to be taken concurrently with PHAR 55 and PHAR 56.

PHAR 63: This course is designed for the Pharmacy Technician major to develop proficiency in skills necessary to both hospital and community pharmacy settings. It will also introduce students to the many contemporary issues facing the pharmacy profession. Included will be use of forms, drug formularies, patient profiles, patient charts, processing of medication orders, drug distribution, drug manufacturing and packaging, and technology.

PHAR 64: This course is designed to develop proficiency in the preparation and storage of sterile products, including intravenous admixtures, TPNs, and antineoplastic agents. Topics include disease processes, infection control, aseptic technique, and pharmacy equipment. USP 797 and California State Board of Pharmacy regulations governing the practice of sterile compounding are emphasized. Proper garb and name tags are required.

PHAR 65: This course is designed to provide training in the art, science, and technology of pharmaceutical compounding. Students develop proficiency in the skills necessary for successful compounding technique and practice in both the hospital and community pharmacy settings. Students will also learn the history and theory of pharmaceutical compounding, non-sterile preparation, use of dosage forms, rationale for use of various drug formulations, patient-specific criteria indicating alternative dosage forms, herbal alternatives, and packaging. USP 795 and California State Board of Pharmacy regulations governing the practice of compounding are emphasized. Proper garb and name tags are required.

PHAR 81: This course is designed to teach Pharmacy Technician students to recognize the classifications, uses, and general action of the various Over-the-Counter (OTC) Pharmaceutical and Herbal products available to and used by consumers. Lectures and discussions include a brief review of anatomy and physiology, a review if the way drugs exert their effects, major indications for use, adverse effects, consumer precautions and contraindications.

PHAR 83: This pharmacology course is designed to cover information about drugs affecting immunological function, infectious diseases, hormonal function, mood and behavior, neoplastic disorders, the gastrointestinal system, vitamin and mineral balance, and the eyes. Content includes how drugs exert their effects, adverse effects, and major indications for drug use.

PHAR 85: This pharmacology course is designed to cover information about drugs affecting the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, and integumentary systems, as well as Complementary and Alternative treatments. Content includes major indications for drug use, how drugs exert their effects, adverse effects, and specific implications for consumer awareness. Drugs of abuse, at-risk populations and treatment regimens are included.

PHAR 90: This course is designed to provide students with practical experiences in selected outpatient community pharmacy settings working under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. In addition, students attend a 1-hour seminar each week on the Cerritos College campus. Proper garb and name tags are required.

PHAR 95: This course is designed to provide students with practical experience in selected inpatient or acute care hospital pharmacy settings working under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor and/or registered pharmacist. In addition, students attend a 1-hour seminar each week on the Cerritos College campus. Proper garb and name tags are required.