Pharmacy Technology 4832, A.S. Career/Tech

A Two-Year Program Leading to the A.S. Degree

Pharmacy technicians are medical professionals who are an integral member of the health care team.  They work alongside pharmacists to ensure patients receive the best support and care.  Pharmacy technicians work in places like community (retail) pharmacies; hospital pharmacies; pharmaceutical production or sales in the pharmaceutical industry; prisons; and primary care, education, military, or veterinary practices.  Duties of a Pharmacy Technician can include data entry, counting, pouring and labeling pharmaceutical products, customer service, sterile product preparation, and inventory management.

With this four-semester program, students will develop and master the technical skills, foundational knowledge, and hands-on techniques that are used in a pharmacy setting.  Along with the pharmacy curriculum, the students complete general education outcomes for the Associate of Science Career and Technical degree that includes courses in social science, laboratory science, math and English.  This program provides the foundation and study materials needed to prepare students to take the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) exam upon completion of the Pharmacy Technology curriculum. 

The Vincennes University Pharmacy Technology program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education (ACPE).  For information about accredited pharmacy technician programs, contact ASHP, c/o Accreditation Services, 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814; phone (301) 657-3000.

The Vincennes University Pharmacy Technology Program mission and goals are based on the standards and objectives in the Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Education and Training published by the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists). The Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Education and Training is utilized as a framework to provide detail and guidance on the instructional goals and objectives, learning activities, didactic education, laboratory simulation, and experiential training components upon which ASHP/ACPE Accredited Pharmacy Technician Programs are based. ASHP goal categories are:

• Personal/Interpersonal Knowledge and Skills
• Foundational Professional Knowledge and Skills
• Processing and Handling of Medications and Medication Orders
• Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding
• Procurement, Billing, Reimbursement and Inventory Management
• Patient- and Medication-Safety
• Technology and Informatics
• Regulatory Issues
• Quality Assurance

Admission Requirements

1. Meet admission requirements for the University.
2. Qualify for placement into MATT 107  or higher with no co-requisite requirements as determined by placement scores, high school academic record and GPA, or complete any 100-level or higher MATT or MATH course with a grade of “C” or better.
3. Qualify for placement into ENGL 101  with no co-requisite requirements as determined by placement scores, high school academic record and GPA, or complete ENGL 101  with a grade of “C” or better.
4. Hold no grade less than a “C” in any required course in the Pharmacy Technology Curriculum.
5. Submit a satisfactory criminal background check and pass a drug screen from firms approved by the Pharmacy Technology Program. 
6. Hold no grade less than a “C” in any general education course.  Applicants with grades less than “C” in required general education courses are not eligible for admission. Required general education courses may only be repeated one time in order to raise the grade to a “C” or better. This includes prerequisites to required courses.

Criminal History Policy

Our pharmacy technology programs are committed to selecting students for admission who can be guaranteed placement in our affiliated clinical agencies.  As part of the admissions process, applicants selected for admission to the A.S. Career Tech in Pharmacy Technology (4832), Certificate of Graduation in Pharmacy Technology (4835) , or the Certificate of Program Completion in Pharmacy Technology (4831)  programs will be required to complete a criminal history and drug screening.  The criminal history report and drug screening results will be used as criterion for admission to and continued enrollment in the programs.  Applicants should be aware that any adverse criminal history report or treatment for substance abuse may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the program.  

Directions for submitting the criminal history report from Vincennes University’s approved vendor will be provided to applicants that are selected for admission to the program.  Applicants are responsible for the cost of the criminal history report.  Results of criminal history reports from our approved vendor automatically release to the Pharmacy Technology Department and may be shared with affiliated clinical agencies.  

Information will be shared with our clinical affiliates regarding any applicants with an adverse criminal history report.  If a clinical agency deems an applicant ineligible for clinical placement, the student will not be eligible for admission/continuation in the program.

No applicant with a conviction of a felony will be admitted into the program.  A misdemeanor conviction involving battery, neglect, abuse, assault, criminal sexual conduct, any type of drug conviction, or theft will not be admitted to the program. Other accounts of criminal history may also be grounds for prohibiting admission, but will be considered on a case by case basis. Applicants may be asked to submit a letter of explanation, letters of reference, court documents, and/or other information to the Pharmacy Technology Department Chair.  The Pharmacy Technology Department, which could include department chair and advisory board, will review the case and make a determination regarding admission to the program. Any applicant or current student with a pending criminal court case/charge will be required to submit information to the Pharmacy Technology Program. Eligibility for admission/continued enrollment in the program will be determined by the Pharmacy Technology Department Chair. If the chair denies the applicant’s admission into the program, the applicant may appeal the decision in writing in accordance with the University’s Student Grievance Policy. Appeals must be addressed to the Pharmacy Technology Department Chair and received within 14 days of notification of denial.  

Any applicant or currently enrolled student in any of the pharmacy technology programs who has had an arrest or any change in their criminal history since the initial background check was completed must report the information to the Pharmacy Technology Department Chair prior to the next pharmacy course day.  Failure to report this information violates our clinical agency agreement and is grounds for immediate dismissal from the Pharmacy Technology Program. 

Drug Screening Policy

All applicants selected for admission to any Pharmacy Technology Program are required to submit a 10 panel drug screening prior to beginning courses.  The drug screening includes screening for Amphetamines, Barbiturate, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Creatinine, Cannabinoids, Methadone, Methaqualone, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene, and PH. Drug screen results with a dilute negative will not be accepted.  Applicants with a dilute negative result will be required to retest within 2 weeks of the original posted results.  A second dilute negative will result in the student either supplying a blood test or hair sample for drug testing.  Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.  Students are responsible for all preadmission testing cost.  Please note that use of CBD oil may result in a positive drug screen.  A positive drug screen for any reason will result in denial of admission to the program.  Instructions for the drug screening will be provided to applicants that have been selected for admission to the program.  Following the initial drug test students may be subject to random drug testing for reasonable suspicion. The expense of random drug tests will be at the expense of the college. Students who display reasonable suspicion will immediately be removed from the education experience and required to submit to an immediate drug testing.

The determination on eligibility to take the certification exam will be made by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). More information about the pharmacy technician requirements may be found on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency’s website at http://www.in.gov/pla. 

Requirements for Pharmacy Technology Students

1. Students must possess BLS (Basic Life Support) CPR certification through American Heart Association.
2. Students must provide health forms and immunizations as directed by the program.
3. Students must supply their own transportation to clinical sites.

Standards for Progression and Graduation

1. Pharmacy Technology students must achieve a minimum grade of “C” in each required PHRM course within the program curriculum.
2. Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better in all required general education courses.  If a student receives a grade less than a “C” in a general education course, the student must repeat the course to achieve a grade of “C” or better.  Failure to achieve a grade of “C” or better in the second attempt will result in dismissal from the program.

Readmission Standards         

Readmission standards apply to any student that was unsuccessful in passing or withdrew from a pharmacy course (PHRM) following admission into the program or any student failing to maintain the Standards for Progression and Graduation.

1. Applicants may be readmitted to the program one time only.
2. Applicants with a grade of “F” in PHRM 225 - Practicum for Advanced Level  or PHRM 226 - Practicum for Entry Level  will not be eligible for readmission.
3. Applicants seeking to reenter the program at the point in which they withdrew, must reenter the program within one year and complete the program within 3 years total. Otherwise, the student may apply for readmission to begin the program in its entirety.
4. The effective catalog for students readmitted to the program in courses beyond the first semester will be the effective catalog at the time of the first admission.
5. Qualified applicants will be readmitted on a space-available basis. In the event that the number of applicants exceeds available space, positions may be offered to applicants with higher qualifications.
6. Applicants for readmission must submit a readmission application by the deadline established by the Pharmacy Technology Department.
7. All applicants must have a minimum semester GPA of 2.0 in order to be considered for readmission.
8. Applicants that have received a grade less than a “C” in more than one Pharmacy Technology Education course are not eligible to reapply for admissions.
9. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis by the Pharmacy Technology Department Chair.
10. In accordance with the University Grievance Policy, applicants who believe they have extenuating circumstances to these readmission standards may submit a letter of appeal to the Pharmacy Technology Department Chair to explain the situation.