Pharmacy Technician Program

Program Admission

Review the Health Careers Admissions Process and follow the requirements below.

Admission Requirements

Each of the following requirements MUST be completed to be considered qualified and placed on the Pharmacy Technician qualified list.

  • Maintain GPA (2.25 or higher)
  • Accuplacer Next Gen (250+) Reading Score or CAMLA (69+) Score or ENG 131 with a C or better
  • Completion of MATH 100, MATH 101, MATH 1094 or higher with a C grade or better (within five years admission)
  • Health Careers Typing Test at 25 wpm or better OR BCA 101 with a C grade or better.

To become qualified, you must complete all admission requirements and contact the Student Success Navigator or Health Careers Academic Adviser. Qualified students are formally admitted to the program once per year, in the fall semester, on a first-qualified first-admitted basis. Final approval to enroll in the program comes from the Pharmacy Technician Program Director.

Required Support Courses

Students may choose to complete as many of the following support courses prior to entering the program. These courses are a part of the PHT Program.

Summary Job Profile

The following is a description of the functional abilities required of a student in the Pharmacy Technician program at Henry Ford College. A student must be able to perform these tasks with or without “reasonable accommodation”, as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. A student requiring accommodation in order to perform any of these tasks should contact Assisted Learning Services.

Job Summary

The Pharmacy Technician is an Allied Health specialist who, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, assists in the various activities of the pharmacy department. In a hospital pharmacy, the pharmacy technician’s responsibilities may include preparing and dispensing drugs in accordance with standard procedures and laws under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, transcription of physician orders, preparation of intravenous fluids, maintaining inventory of pharmaceutical supplies, and maintaining patient profile records and preparing bulk information.

Physical & Mental Requirements

  1. Strength: Requires the ability to push/pull, as well as lift objects of more than 30 lbs.
  2. Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to constantly perform moderately difficult manipulative skills, such as word processing, preparation of aseptic IV solutions, compounding, packaging, labeling and using bar coding devices in the ordering and inventory process of drug products.
  3. Coordination: Requires the performance of gross body coordination such as walking, standing and bending. The ability to constantly perform tasks which require eye-hand coordination such as keyboard skills, use of syringes for measuring solutions, selecting from correct medication bin for stat doses and unit dose cart fill, etc. The ability to frequently perform tasks which require arm-hand steadiness, such as transferring drug cassette on the nursing floors, etc.
  4. Mobility/Endurance: In the classroom, the student is constantly required to sit for prolonged periods. In the laboratory and/or clinic, the student should be able to walk, sit and stand for prolonged periods.
  5. Visual Discrimination: Requires the ability to see objects closely, such as syringe measurements, drug vial information, etc. and the ability to frequently discriminate colors as in capsules, IV solutions, and electrical wires for warning lights.
  6. Hearing: Requires the ability to constantly distinguish various sounds as in oral communications, phones, fax machines, alarms, hospital codes (fire, distress, etc.), equipment (refrigerators, computers), etc.
  7. Concentration: Requires the ability to concentrate on moderate to fine detail with constant interruption, such as reading doctor’s orders and/or prescriptions.
  8. Attention Span: Needs to be able to attend to tasks/functions for more than 60 minutes at a time, such as preparing an IV and adding mixture solutions, etc.
  9. Conceptualization: Frequently needs to be able to understand and relate to the theories behind several related concepts.
  10. Memory: Requires ability to constantly remember multiple tasks/assignments given to self and others over long periods of time, such as different computer applications for billing, ordering, etc.
  11. Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Convey information through verbal and nonverbal communication and written word. Communicate in a one-on-one setting as well as in groups. Interact effectively and appropriately with instructors, healthcare providers, peers, patients, and family to provide effective and efficient patient care.

Environmental & Working Conditions

Technician occasionally exposed to hazardous waste material, cytotoxins and/or poisonous substances.