Pharmacy Technician
Short-term Training Certifications
PURPOSE: The Community College Workforce Alliance works in partnership with Reynolds and Tyler Community Colleges to serve students with a fast track to the workforce with training and credentialing programs that can be completed in weeks or months. CCWA offers workforce training and certifications in transportation and logistics, construction and trades, customer service, health care and manufacturing. These programs are supported through state-funded tuition assistance available to all Virginians, making Short-term Training Programs low cost or no cost. Short-term Training Programs also offer career coaching and job connections.
OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: Short-term Training credentials prepare students for entry-level careers in high-demand occupational fields offering good starting wages - many with benefits and promotion opportunities.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: There are no admissions requirements. Tuition assistance is available to all residents of Virginia, regardless of income. Classes may be free to those qualifying for additional financial aid.
PROGRAM NOTES: In certain industries, prior convictions may prohibit employment. Drug testing and a pre-employment physical may be required for some occupations. Some companies may have minimum age requirements for select positions.
Pharmacy Technician
This program will prepare participants to enter the pharmacy field and to pursue certification including the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's PTCB exam. The need for Pharmacy Technicians continues to grow with demand expected to increase substantially in the next few years. Technicians work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist in hospitals, home infusion pharmacies, community pharmacies and other healthcare settings. This high demand for pharmacy technicians is the result of a multitude of factors including the constant availability of new drugs, the national shortage of registered pharmacists, the establishment of certified pharmacy technicians, and the aging population. This course covers the following key areas and topics: Pharmacy calculations, medical terminology specific to the pharmacy industry, skills to read and interpret prescriptions, review of the top 200 drugs, skills to identify drugs by generic and brand names, dosage calculations, I.V. flow rates, drug compounding, and dose conversions, dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control, and billing and reimbursement.
Pharmacy Technician
Common job titles: Accredited Pharmacy Technician; Billing and Quality Technician; Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT); Compounding Technician; Lead Pharmacy Tech, Certified Pharmacy Technician (Lead Pharmacy Tech, CPhT); Lead Pharmacy Technician (Lead Pharmacy Tech); Pharmacy Technician (Pharmacy Tech); Senior Pharmacy Technician; Technician; Technician, Inventory Specialist
Labor Market Statistics (Richmond, MSA):
Projected Employment (2026): 10,320
Current Wage Range (Entry - Experienced): $21,450 - $46,340
Bright Outlook occupations are expected to have rapid growth over the next 10-years (employment increase of 10% or more in the Richmond, MSA over the period of 2018-2028) or are expected to have a high demand (projected to have 750 or more job openings in the Richmond, MSA over the period of 2018-2028).
"Green occupations will likely change as a result of the green economy. Green economy activities and technologies are increasing the demand for occupations, shaping the work and worker requirements needed for occupational performance, or generating new and emerging occupations." -- O*NET
1 This program may prepare you for one or more of the listed jobs; however, graduates may not be qualified for all of the jobs listed in this section.
Reynolds Community College makes every attempt to provide students with the best, most accurate information possible. The data was sourced from an external agency (O*NET) on August 1, 2019.
CCWA has funding through the Short-term Training Program for this certification prep course. The financial assistance can help pay for training that supports attainment of industry credentials. If you have limited income and want to earn an industry credential, please contact us and find out how CCWA can support your efforts.
Sign up for an upcoming Short-term Training orientation.
Sessions will be held at CCWA on the Parham Road Campus of Reynolds Community College in the Workforce Development and Conference Center (WDCC) located at 1651 E. Parham Rd. Richmond, VA 23228.
For more registration information, contact a CCWA Career Coach at careercoach@ccwa.vccs.edu.