Spotlight on the Pharmacy Tech Program at Atlanta Technical College

Spotlight on the Pharmacy Tech Program at Atlanta Technical College

Program Spotlight Pharmacy Tech

What is a Pharmacy Tech? A pharmacy technician is a medical professional who works alongside a registered pharmacist. He prepares medications for dispensation, manages insurance billing and claims, labels prescriptions, manages sterile IV preparation, and counts pills. This profession is a great option for people who desire to enter the medical field in a short time. The primary distinction between a pharmacy tech and a pharmacist is that a technician does not counsel patients and must work under a registered pharmacist's supervision.

Career Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, the pharmaceutical field is on pace to be one of the nation's fastest-growing industries. Robbie Howard, Pharmacy Technology Program Coordinator at Atlanta Technical College, explains why this field is expanding when so many others are shrinking. "The primary reason this field is flourishing is the baby boomers, who are reaching the age when a lot of chronic diseases arise and there is a high demand for people who can properly dispense the prescriptions they need to treat their ailments."

Tiffany Stoney, Pharmacy Technology Instructor and Infection Control Coordinator at the college, says that the field is even broader than most people realize. "The average person is familiar with the retail options available in this industry. He sees pharmacy techs working in his local Walgreens, CVS stores, and Publix pharmacies. However, many people don't realize that pharmacy techs also work within inpatient facilities such as nursing homes, prisons, long-term care facilities, and hospice care centers. The career options for pharmacy techs are nearly limitless. With the emergence of mail-order pharmacies, our graduates are working with companies throughout the US."

Atlanta Technical College's Program

Atlanta Technical College offers three programs in Pharmacy Technology.

Pharmacist Assistant Technical Certificate - prepares graduates for entry-level opportunities in retail and ambulatory care pharmacies.

Pharmacy Technology Diploma Program - track for students who desire to work in retail and ambulatory pharmacies or specialty care or inpatient facilities.

Pharmacy Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree - this program's graduates are proficient in all areas of pharmacy technology. In addition to the medical and operational courses offered in the TCC and diploma programs, students on this track also must pass general education and customer service courses, which prepare them for supervisory positions or advanced studies in the field. This program is ideal for anyone hoping to enroll in pharmacy school or continue his education at a traditional university.

Areas covered in the associate degree programs include principles of dispensing medications, anatomy and physiology, pharmaceutical calculations, introductions to microcomputers, medical terminology for allied health sciences, principles of preparing sterile medications, and more.

For information on any of the Pharmacy Tech programs visit www.atlantatech.edu or contact Robbie Howard, CPhT, MPH Pharmacy Technology Program Coordinator 404-225-4643 rhoward@atlantatech.edu

Tiffany Stoney, CPhT B.S. Pharmacy Technology Instructor/ Infection Control Coordinator 404.225.4559 tstoney@atlantatech.edu

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