The student will be able to:
A. Assist the pharmacist in collecting, organizing, and evaluating information for direct patient care, drug use review, and departmental management.
B. Receive and screen prescriptions/medications orders for completeness with the use of a computer database system.
C. Prepare medications for distribution and distribute medications.
D. Control inventory according to established plan.
E. Purchase pharmaceuticals according to an established purchasing program.
F. Monitor and removal of pharmaceutical inventory.
G. Maintain pharmacy equipment and facilities.
H. Perform and complete unit dose packaging.
I. Perform and complete bulk compounding.
J. Operate the Pyxis machine.
K. Utilize proper procedures for recording the preparation and dispensing of controlled substances and investigational drugs.
L. Assist the pharmacist for billing for pharmacy services.
M. Assist the pharmacist in the monitoring of counseling of patients.
N. Recognize brand and generic drug names.
O. Assist the pharmacist in monitoring the practice site and/or service area.
P. Assist the pharmacist in the monitoring of drug therapy.
Q. Calculate, compound, label, document, and store sterile, parenteral products.
R. Compound cytotoxic and other hazardous drug products using proper technique.
S. Follow safety policies and procedures in disposal of all hazardous wastes generated during medication preparation.

Practical supervised experience will be provided by performing the following tasks:
A. Collection of pertinent patient information, for use by the pharmacist, from the medical chart, patient profile, prescription, or medical record
B. Use of a typical computer database system for accurate entry and retrieval of information
C. Procedures for preparation, labeling, and distribution of pharmaceuticals
1. Unit dose
2. Drawer/cassette filling
3. Using automation to fill drawers
D. Inventory, receiving, and storage of pharmaceutical items
1. Medications
2. Equipment and devices
3. Supplies
E. Purchasing of pharmaceutical items
1. Medications
2. Equipment and devices
3. Supplies
F. Monitoring of pharmaceutical items
1. Expired/discontinued/recalled medications
2. Expired/discontinued/recalled equipment and devices
3. Expired/discontinued/recalled supplies
G. Utilization and maintenance of counting, weighing, and measuring devices
H. Unit dose packaging and dispensing
1. Use of unit dose automated machine
2. Proper labeling of unit dose items
3. Documentation
I. Bulk compounding, packaging and repackaging
1. Following hospital protocol
2. Bulk packaging
3. Bulk repackaging
4. Documentation and safety policies
J. Pyxis automated system
1. Loading of machine
2. Maintenance of machine
K. Controlled substances and investigational drugs
1. Controlled substance ordering and receiving
2. DEA Form 222
3. Inventory of controlled substances
4. Investigational drug protocols
L. Payment and/or initiate billing for pharmacy services and goods
1. RTS (Return to stock items)
M. Assist the pharmacist in the identification of patients who desire counseling
1. Use of new medications
2. Equipment/devices
3. Supplies
4. Discharge medications
N. Brand and generic drug name recognition
O. Monitoring practice site or service area
1. Compliance with federal law
2. Compliance with state law
3. Compliance with regulations and professional standards
P. Monitoring of drug therapy
1. Drug allergies
2. Potential drug interactions
Q. Aseptic pharmacy procedures
1. Laminar flow hoods
a. Horizontal
b. Vertical
2. Sterilization and cleaning procedures
3. Preparation of parenteral solutions
4. Reconstitution
5. Preparation of parenteral admixtures
6. Parenteral nutrition
7. Inspection, labeling, storage, documentation, and filling of parenteral medications orders
8. Other sterile products
R. Preparation of cytotoxic drug orders
S. Safety and special handling of hazardous drug products and waste products

Practical supervised experience will be provided in, but not limited to, the tasks, listed:
A. Collection of pertinent patient information, for use by the pharmacist, from the medical chart, patient profile, prescription, or medical record.
B. Use of a typical computer database system for accurate entry and retrieval of information.
C. Procedures for preparation, labeling, and distribution of pharmaceuticals.
D. Inventory, receiving, and storage of pharmaceuticals items.
E. Purchasing of pharmaceutical items.
F. Monitoring of pharmaceutical items.
G. Utilization and maintenance of counting, weighing, and measuring devices.
H. Unit dose packaging and dispensing.
I. Bulk compounding, packaging and repackaging.
J. Pyxis automated system.
K. Controlled substances and investigational drugs.
L. Payment and/or initiate billing for pharmacy services and goods.
M. Assist the pharmacist in the identification of patients who desire counseling.
N. Brand and generic drug name recognition.
O. Monitoring practice site or service area.
P. Monitoring of drug therapy.
Q. Aseptic pharmacy procedures.
R. Preparation of cytotoxic drug orders.
S. Safety and special handling of hazardous drug products and waste products.

A checklist of tasks performed during clinical assignments will be maintained by the supervisor. Completion of these tasks will be assessed as to accuracy and adequacy of experience
Weekly written assignments will be utilized to determine the understanding of the tasks and responsibilities
Site visit by clinical coordinator or program director

Internship/preceptorship
Discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Reflective writing

Ballington, Don, and Robert Anderson. Pharmacy Practice for Technicians, 6th ed.. 2017.

American Pharmacists Association, Perspective Press. The Pharmacy Technician, 7th ed.. 2020.

Foothill College Pharmacy Technician Handbook

A. Weekly summary of clinical experiences.
B. Self-evaluation of experiential competency.