Pharmacy Technician
School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division
• Certificate of Completion Pharmacy Technician
About HWPS Course Sequence FAQ's
Program Description
The program is designed to prepare students for careers as pharmacy technicians in hospital, retail, mail-order pharmacies and other pharmacy related industries. Students receive classroom, laboratory and practical experience covering all aspects of the profession. Included in the laboratory portions of the program is a 45-hour content-specific block of instruction dealing with the preparation of sterile intravenous products as required by the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy. The program begins every other term; term 1 will be offered Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Summer 2011.
Special Requirements
Students are required to have a New Mexico driver’s license, PPD and current immunizations (including DTP, MMR, Varicella and Hepatitis B).
Criminal Background/Drug Screen: Students are required to undergo routine drug screening and a state and federal criminal background check with fingerprints prior to starting the program or prior to beginning their clinical experience.
Students with a disqualifying conviction will not be allowed to start or remain in the program; additionally any student found to have a disqualifying conviction will not be allowed to register for any Allied Health or Nursing Programs.
Students interested in certain School of Health, Wellness and Public Safety programs must be in good physical and psychological health. Students may be required to provide documentation of a recent health screening (physical form) from a licensed healthcare provider confirming the ability to safely perform program specific activities and lift a minimum of 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations are made for those students with disabilities. However, some disabilities may prohibit students from completing program specific competencies or gaining employment.
There is a program fee listed in the Schedule of Classes for the purchase of one lab coat and a name tag.
Career and Advancement Opportunities
The Pharmacy Technician program typically has a 100% placement rate for its graduates. Jobs are available in hospitals, retail and specialty pharmacies. Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification exam for pharmacy technicians. Graduates who have taken the certification exam have consistently scored higher than the national average.
Special Notes
Students should have reliable transportation while in this program. Clinical assignments are given to students requiring travel throughout the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Students planning to continue their education at higher education institutions are encouraged to take CHEM 1410/1492L and COMM 2221. Students must meet the prerequisites either by Accuplacer scores or specific course work prior to entering the program.
Course Prerequisites: Students must meet prerequisites by placement scores or specific coursework.
Course Accuplacer Score or Equiv.
ENG 1101 College Writing 110
MATH 0930 Algebraic Problem Solving or Elem. Algrbra 72
RDG 0950 Reading and Critical Thinking 80
CHEM 0950 Basics of Chemistry or CHEM 1410 Intro to Chem w Lab
Graduation Policy
- All Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division career and technical courses required for graduation must be taken for a traditional grade of A, B or C. For Health, Wellness & Public Safety career and technical courses offered only for credit/no credit, a grade of credit (CR) must be earned.
- Pre- and corequisites are listed in course descriptions and are subject to change with each new catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the pre- and/or corequisites in effect for the term in which a course is taken, regardless of the catalog under which the student entered or will graduate. Students may be stopped from enrolling or may be disenrolled if pre- or corequisites are not met.
- Students who have successfully completed courses that no longer exist from previous catalogs will be accommodated. Contact the HWPS Administrative office at (505) 224-4111 for more information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Program information is available from the program director, Douglas Scribner at (505) 224-5487, dscribner@cnm.edu, or from Academic Advisement and Career Development at (505) 224-4321.
