FOR MORE INFOR MATION CONTACT DEBBIE KUCHMAS AT 203-332-5150
HCC OFFERING PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION COURSE
GROWTH PROFESSION
Classes Start Feb. 22
BRIDGEPORT - Housatonic Community
College this month is offering a non-credit course that can lead
to Pharmacy Technician certification.
Pharmacy technicianshelp licensed pharmacists prepare prescription
medications, provide customer service, and perform administrative duties
within a pharmacy setting. They are generally responsible
for receiving prescription requests, counting tablets, and labeling
bottles, Pharmacy technicians who work in retail or mail-order pharmacies
have various additional responsibilities, depending on state rules
and regulations.
“With the 76 million baby boomers approaching retirement, the demand
for pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 31 percent over the next
ten years,” said HCC Director of Workforce and Non-Credit Courses Deborah
S. Kuchmas. “This is faster that the average for all other occupations.”
As cost-conscious insurers begin using pharmacies as patient-care centers
and pharmacists become more involved in patient care, pharmacy technicians
will see an expansion of their role in the pharmacy, she said. All
this adds up to bright employment prospects, especially for those with
certifications.
“This certification course is one of several that we offer to prepare
students for careers with a future,” Kuchmas said. “ In this economy,
with its high unemployment rates, we’re delighted that we are able
to provide this service.”
The HCC course is designed to prepare students for the official Pharmacy
Technician certification exam. The course will cover medical terminology
specific to pharmacy, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining
drugs by generic and brand names. Dosage calculations, I.V. flow rate,
drug compounding and dose conversion, dispensing of prescriptions,
inventory control, billing, and insurance reimbursement will also be
discussed.
The exam is not included in the course. Basic Math and Algebra, necessary
to make pharmaceutical calculations, are prerequisites.
This ten-week course, taught by Frank Boskello, is being offered Mondays
and Wednesdays, Feb. 22 - April 28; 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Room A209
in Lafayette Hall. The fee is $629
For more information or to register, contact Continuing Education at
203-332-5057.
Housatonic Community College is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown
Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-95 (Exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit
1), a block from the Arena at Harbor Yard.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu