Pharmacy Technician Training

Upon successful completion of this application-based CPE course, learners should be able to:
1. Describe the role of pharmacy within the healthcare system and its impact on safe and effective medication use.
2. Differentiate the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians from those of pharmacists and recognize when pharmacist involvement is required.
3. Compare the roles, workflows, and patient populations encountered across common pharmacy practice settings.
4. Explain how technician scope of practice is influenced by applicable laws, workplace policies, education, training, and pharmacist supervision.
5. Summarize the education, training, certification, and professional development pathways that support career advancement for pharmacy technicians.
6. Recognize professional behaviors and ethical principles that promote accountability, integrity, and patient-centered pharmacy practice.
7. Explain the importance of protecting patient privacy, maintaining confidentiality, and treating all patients with dignity and respect.
8. Demonstrate effective communication strategies that support teamwork, appropriate patient interactions, and timely escalation of clinical concerns.
9. Discuss the principles of a safety-focused culture and the technician’s role in preventing medication errors through situational awareness and consistent workflow practices.
10. Determine appropriate actions for pharmacy technicians in common practice scenarios by applying principles of scope of practice, professionalism, communication, ethics, confidentiality, and patient safety.
11. Describe the roles of federal and state agencies in regulating pharmacy practice and promoting patient safety.
12. Recognize the required components of a valid prescription before processing medication orders.
13. Differentiate controlled substance schedules and their related regulatory requirements in pharmacy practice.
14. Explain the pharmacy technician’s responsibility to safeguard protected health information under patient privacy requirements.
15. Summarize the purpose of medication distribution laws that support product tracing, recalls, and supply chain integrity.
16. Determine appropriate actions when encountering common regulatory and compliance concerns in pharmacy practice.
17. Differentiate the types of medication orders and prescription transmission methods used in pharmacy practice.
18. Interpret prescription elements to detect incomplete, unclear, or potentially unsafe medication order information.
19. Translate common sig codes, abbreviations, and prescription directions into clear, patient-friendly medication instructions.
20. Explain the importance of accurate prescription data entry and documentation in supporting safe medication dispensing.
21. Select the appropriate medication product using National Drug Code (NDC) information during prescription processing.
22. Describe the required components of prescription labeling and the technician’s role in preparing accurate medication labels.
23. Summarize the major steps of the prescription dispensing workflow and pharmacy technology-supported processing.
24. Process medication orders accurately using prescription interpretation, data entry, product selection, labeling, workflow, and technology principles.
25. Differentiate generic and brand medication names and common drug-naming patterns used in pharmacy practice.
26. Classify medications according to their therapeutic categories and intended clinical uses.
27. Explain common dosage forms and routes of administration used in pharmacy practice.
28. Discuss commonly encountered cardiovascular medications and their therapeutic classifications.
29. Describe commonly encountered diabetes and endocrine medications and their primary therapeutic uses.
30. Recall commonly encountered respiratory medications and the dosage forms in which they are commonly dispensed.
31. Identify commonly encountered central nervous system medications and their therapeutic classifications.
32. Recognize common pain management and anti-inflammatory medications used in pharmacy practice.
33. Name commonly encountered anti-infective medications and the therapeutic categories to which they belong.
34. List commonly encountered gastrointestinal medications and other therapies used to manage digestive health conditions.
35. Outline other commonly encountered therapeutic medication classes frequently dispensed in pharmacy practice.
36. Determine appropriate medication handling, storage, and preparation requirements using practice-based scenarios.
37. Describe the measurement systems and units commonly used to prepare and dispense medications in pharmacy practice.
38. Convert measurements accurately by applying dimensional analysis to common pharmacy calculations.
39. Solve dosage calculations using ratios and proportions to determine appropriate medication quantities.
40. Determine appropriate medication quantities and days’ supply using prescription directions and patient-specific dosing information.
41. Calculate medication concentrations, dilutions, and percentage strengths used during medication preparation and compounding activities.
42. Apply appropriate calculation methods to accurately solve common scenarios in pharmacy practice.
43. Describe the types, causes, and potential consequences of medication errors throughout the medication-use process.
44. Differentiate look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications from other medication safety risks encountered during pharmacy workflow.
45. Identify high-alert medications that require additional safety precautions during preparation and dispensing.
46. Explain the purpose of medication error reporting systems and continuous quality improvement initiatives in pharmacy practice.
47. Determine appropriate strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond to medication safety concerns using practice-based scenarios.
48. Describe the purpose of pharmaceutical compounding and the pharmacy technician’s role in preparing compounded medications.
49. Differentiate nonsterile compounding practices from sterile compounding procedures and their associated technician responsibilities.
50. Identify hazardous drugs and the safety precautions used to protect pharmacy personnel during handling and disposal.
51. Apply safe compounding and hazardous drug handling principles to practice-based pharmacy scenarios.
52. Describe the medication procurement process and the pharmacy technician’s role in maintaining medication inventory.
53. Explain proper medication storage requirements and inventory control practices that support medication quality and patient safety.
54. Differentiate procedures used to manage expired medications, product returns, recalls, and medication disposal.
55. Identify technologies used to support pharmacy operations, inventory management, and prescription workflow.
56. Apply inventory management and operational workflow principles to common scenarios in pharmacy practice.
57. Summarize key concepts from each section of the course that support readiness for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
58. Describe effective study and test-taking strategies that promote success on the PTCE.
59. Identify professional organizations, educational resources, and reference materials that support ongoing professional development.
60. Develop a personalized plan to prepare for the PTCE and support continued growth as a pharmacy technician.

This course is a PTCB-Recognized Education/Training Program for the PTCB CPhT credential. Click here to learn more about PTCB’s CPhT credential and prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam® (PTCE®).