MCCCD Program Description

Pharmacology and Pharmacy Technology

Course: PHC120

First Term: 2025 Fall

Clock Hours: 230
Grading Basis: CLK

Description: This course is designed to offer incumbent pharmacy technician trainees foundational knowledge in pharmacy history, evolving roles and responsibilities of the pharmacy technician, ethics, and state and national drug laws and regulations in order to prepare for the national certification examination.
Students will focus on learning the top 200 prescribed medications, pharmaceutical abbreviations, and prescription sig codes. Additionally, students will practice prescription dispensing, adjudication with insurance companies, and medication distribution in retail and hospital pharmacy settings.
Students will practice computer skills, bulk compounding, packaging, inventory control, medication storage, and drug delivery systems. Students will practice pharmaceutical math to calculate drug dosing, as well as the principles of household, metric, and apothecary measurements to safely compound sterile and non-sterile medications.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Demonstrate critical problem-solving skills. (I-IV, XI-XXIX) 2. Demonstrate professionalism as a pharmacy technician. (I-XXIX) 3. Communicate effectively with diverse populations. (I-XXIX) 4. Demonstrate understanding of healthcare occupations in the healthcare delivery system. (IV-XXXII) 5. Demonstrate knowledge in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role. (VII, IX, XIII, XXVI, XXVII, XXIX, XXX, XXXIII) 6. Demonstrate skills in areas of science relevant to the pharmacy technician’s role. (IX, XIII, XXVI, XXVII, XXIX) 7. Prepare billing information. (X, XI, XVI, XXVIII-XXXI, XXXIV) 8. Perform cashiering functions. (X, XI, XVI, XXVIII-XXXI, XXXIV) 9. Perform accurate mathematical calculations. (XII, XIV, XVI, XVII, XIX, XXI, XXV, XXVIII, XXXIV) 10. Demonstrate skills in the preparation process for pharmaceutical compounding. (XII-XX, XXI, XXXIV) 11. Apply safety practices in all aspects of the pharmacy technician’s role. (XII-XX, XXXIV) 12. Support the pharmacist within the scope of a pharmacy technician. (XII-XXIV) 13. Demonstrate skills required for effective emergency preparedness. (XXII-XXIV, XXI, XXVI) 14. Perform inventory control. (XXIV, XXVIII, XXXIV)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Professional appearance and behavior A. Ethical conduct B. Communicate clearly II. Self-management skills A. Time management B. Stress management C. Adapting to change III. Interpersonal skills A. Negotiation skills B. Conflict resolution C. Teamwork IV. Problem solving A. Critical thinking skills B. Creativity C. Innovation V. Wellness promotion and disease prevention A. Health screenings B. Health practices C. Environmental factors that impact health D. Adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, legal and illegal drugs VI. Commitment to excellence A. Continuing education B. Training VII. Knowledge and skills in science A. Anatomy B. Physiology C. Pharmacology VIII. The medication-use process IX. The pharmacy profession A. Trends B. Issues C. Goals D. Initiatives X. Nontraditional roles of pharmacy technicians XI. Emerging therapies XII. Sterile and nonsterile compounding A. Preparation B. Process XIII. Identification of patients who desire/require counseling to optimize the use of: A. Medications B. Equipment C. Devices XIV. Preparing non-patient-specific medications for distribution A. Batch B. Stock medications C. Follow specified procedures XV. Infection-control procedures A. Blood-borne diseases B. Airborne diseases XVI. Assisting pharmacists in preparing, storing, distributing medication requiring special handling A. Controlled substances B. Immunizations C. Chemotherapy D. Investigational drugs E. Drugs with mandated risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) XVII. Preparing patient-specific medications for distribution XVIII. Using material safety data sheets (MSDS) A. Identifying hazardous materials B. Handling hazardous materials C. Safely disposing of hazardous materials XIX. Preparing medications requiring compounding A. Sterile products B. Nonsterile products C. Chemotherapy/hazardous products XX. Patient and medication safety practices XXI. Medications produced by other healthcare professionals A. Verifying measurements B. Verifying preparation C. Verifying packaging XXII. Emergency preparedness XXIII. Medication reconciliation XXIV. Medication therapy management XXV. Using current technology A. To ensure safety B. Accuracy of medication dispensing XXVI. Roles of pharmacist and pharmacy technician A. Compare and contrast the roles B. Pharmacy department compliance 1. Professional standards 2. Legal 3. Regulatory 4. Formulary 5. Contractual 6. Safety requirements XXVII. Confidentiality of patient information XXVIII. Quality assurance practices A. Pharmaceuticals B. Durable and nondurable medical equipment C. Devices D. Supplies XXIX. Procedures and communication channels to use A. Product recall B. Product shortage C. Medication error D. Other problems XXX. Knowledge of major drug classes A. By their use B. By their pharmacological effect XXXI. Top 200 common medications A. By generic B. By brand name XXXII. Factors which affect pharmacokinetics XXXIII. Factors which affect pharmacodynamics XXXIV. Pharmacy mathematical calculations A. Retail pharmacy and dispensing B. Inventory control C. Billing D. Compounding (sterile and non-sterile)

Clock Curriculum Committee Approval Date: 10/4/2024

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.