The student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with pharmacology for technicians.
2. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with pharmacy law and regulations.
3. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with sterile and non-sterile compounding.
4. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with medication safety.
5. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with pharmacy quality assurance.
6. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with medication order entry and fill process.
7. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with pharmacy inventory management.
8. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with pharmacy billing and reimbursement.
9. Demonstrate understanding of content knowledge with pharmacy information system usage and application.
10. Take mock written examinations within satisfactory guidelines for state and national certification requirements.
11. Complete the California Pharmacy Technician State License Application.
12. Complete the PTCE registration and schedule to take PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam).

1. Pharmacology for technicians
   1. Generic and brand names of pharmaceuticals
   2. Therapeutic equivalence
   3. Drug interactions (e.g., drug-disease, drug-drug, drug-dietary supplement, drug-OTC [over-the-counter], drug-laboratory, drug-nutrient)
   4. Strengths/dose, dosage forms, physical appearance, routes of administration, and duration of drug therapy
   5. Common and severe side or adverse effects, allergies, and therapeutic contraindications associated with medications
   6. Dosage and indication of legend, OTC (over-the-counter) medications, herbal and dietary supplements
2. Pharmacy law and regulations
   1. Storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes (e.g., MSDS [Material Safety Data Sheets])
   2. Hazardous substances exposure, prevention, and treatment (e.g., eyewash, spill kit, MSDS [Material Safety Data Sheets])
   3. Controlled substance transfer regulations (DEA [Drug Enforcement Agency])
   4. Controlled substance documentation requirements for receiving, ordering, returning, loss/theft, destruction (DEA [Drug Enforcement Agency])
   5. Formula to verify the validity of a prescriber's Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) number
   6. Record keeping, documentation, and record retention (e.g., length of time prescriptions are maintained on file)
   7. Restricted drug programs and related prescription-processing requirements (e.g., thalidomide, isotretinoin, clozapine)
   8. Professional standards related to data integrity, security, and confidentiality (e.g., HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act], backing up and archiving)
   9. Requirement for consultation (e.g., OBRA '90 [Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act])
   10. FDA's recall classification
   11. Infection control standards (e.g., laminar air flow, clean room, hand washing, cleaning counting trays, countertop, and equipment) (OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration], USP [United States Pharmacopeia] 795 and 797)
   12. Record keeping for repackaged and recalled products and supplies (TJC [The Joint Commission], BOP [Board of Pharmacy])
   13. Professional standards regarding the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other pharmacy employees (TJC [The Joint Commission], BOP [Board of Pharmacy])
   14. Reconciliation between state and federal laws and regulations
   15. Facility, equipment, and supply requirements (e.g., space requirements, prescription file, storage, cleanliness, reference materials) (TJC [The Joint Commission], BOP [Board of Pharmacy])
3. Sterile and non-sterile compounding
   1. Infection control (e.g., hand washing, PPE [personal protective equipment])
   2. Handling and disposal requirements (e.g., receptacles, waste streams)
   3. Documentation (e.g., batch preparation, compounding record)
   4. Determine product stability (e.g., beyond use dating, signs of incompatibility)
   5. Selection and use of equipment and supplies
   6. Sterile compounding processes
   7. Non-sterile compounding processes
4. Medication safety
   1. Error prevention strategies for data entry (e.g., prescription or medication order to correct patient)
   2. Patient package insert and medication guide requirements (e.g., special directions and precautions)
   3. Identify issues that require pharmacist intervention (e.g., DUR [drug utilization review], ADE [adverse drug event], OTC [over-the-counter] recommendation, therapeutic substitution, misuse, missed dose)
   4. Look-alike/sound-alike medications
   5. High-alert/risk medications
   6. Common safety strategies (e.g., tall man lettering, separating inventory, leading and trailing zeros, limit use of error prone abbreviations)
5. Pharmacy quality assurance
   1. Quality assurance practices for medication and inventory control systems (e.g., matching National Drug Code [NDC] number, bar code, data entry)
   2. Infection control procedures and documentation (e.g., personal protective equipment, needle recapping)
   3. Risk management guidelines and regulations (e.g., error prevention strategies)
   4. Communication channels necessary to ensure appropriate follow-up and problem resolution (e.g., product recalls, shortages)
   5. Productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction measures
6. Medication order entry and fill process
   1. Order entry process
   2. Intake, interpretation, and data entry
   3. Calculate doses required
   4. Fill process (e.g., select appropriate product, apply special handling requirements, measure, and prepare product for final check)
   5. Labeling requirements (e.g., auxiliary and warning labels, expiration date, patient specific information)
   6. Packaging requirements (e.g., type of bags, syringes, glass, PVC [polyvinyl chloride], child resistant, light resistant)
   7. Dispensing process (e.g., validation, documentation, and distribution)
7. Pharmacy inventory management
   1. Function and application of NDC (National Drug Code), lot numbers, and expiration dates
   2. Formulary or approved/preferred product list
   3. Ordering and receiving processes (e.g., maintain par levels, rotate stock)
   4. Storage requirements (e.g., refrigeration, freezer, warmer)
   5. Removal (e.g., recalls, returns, outdates, reverse distribution)
8. Pharmacy billing and reimbursement
   1. Reimbursement policies and plans (e.g., HMOs [Health Maintenance Organization], PPO [Preferred Provider Organization], CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services], private plans)
   2. Third party resolution (e.g., prior authorization, rejected claims, plan limitations)
   3. Third-party reimbursement systems (e.g., PBM [Pharmacy Benefit Manager], medication assistance programs, coupons, self-pay)
   4. Healthcare reimbursement systems (e.g., home health, long-term care, home infusion)
   5. Coordination of benefits
9. Pharmacy information system usage and application
   1. Pharmacy-related computer applications for documenting the dispensing of prescriptions or medication orders (e.g., maintaining the electronic medical record, patient adherence, risk factors, alcohol drug use, drug allergies, side effects)
   2. Databases, pharmacy computer applications, and documentation management (e.g., user access, drug database, interface, inventory report, usage reports, override reports, diversion reports)
10. Complete four online Pharmacy Technician Certification Exams
    1. Identify areas of weakness from performance on the practice/mock Pharmacy Technician Certification Exams
    2. Devise study plan to improve areas of weakness
11. Complete the California Pharmacy Technician State License Application
    1. California Board of Pharmacy website to complete necessary documents
12. Complete the PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) registration process to take PTCE
    1. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board website to complete necessary documents to sit for exam
    2. Schedule exam
    3. Take exam

Not applicable.

Quizzes/unit exams
PTCE mock exams: pre-test; four individual post-tests
Self-evaluation paper to identify areas of weakness
Lecture assignments
Homework assignments

Lecture presentations
Classroom discussion
Online learning/testing system

Lawrence, Sarah, and Cheryl Aiken. Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Review, 5th ed.. 2021.

California State Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacy Law with Rules and Regulations: California Edition. 2024.

California State Board of Pharmacy. Application Instructions for Pharmacy Technician License. 2024.

California State Board of Pharmacy website: https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board website: https://ptcb.org/

1. Review all chapters in textbook as related to PTCE written exam.
2. Complete California Pharmacy Technician State Licensure Application packet.