4/5/2015 Pharmacy Technician - Vancouver Community College

http://www.vcc.ca/programscourses/program-areas/health-sciences/pharmacy-technician/#progDescription 1/5

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Program Description

Pharmacy Technician

This full time program prepares graduates for employment as pharmacy technicians in a variety of settings including community, hospital and long term carepharmacies. Graduates will have the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the technical and administrative functions required to provide patient-centred, outcomes-focussed pharmacy services. In addition, students learn to be responsible and accountable for ensuring patient safety and for accuracy andquality of product preparation and product release. Students learn to collaborate with other health care professionals in the promotion of wellness, diseaseprevention and chronic disease management.

The program includes a practicum in a community and hospital pharmacy. The Pharmacy Technician Program of Vancouver Community College has beenawarded the status of Full Accreditation by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs for a three year term (2014-2017)

Program Status

Accepting applications. (waitlist is approximately 2-3 years)

Start Length Credentials Campus Part- or Full-time

May 2014, January2015, Sept 2015 andMay 2016

30 weeks Certificate Broadway Full-time

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The first step, apply early. Students who have officially applied and met all admission requirements are sent a letter of acceptance approximately four to fivemonths before the next available start date. A first payment is required to reserve a seat in the program.

Online Fax / Mail In Person

If you're ready and know the program you want, apply now [https://applybc.ca/vcc.jsp] .

Download and complete the (PDF)application/registration form[/media/vancouver-community-college/content-assets/documents/forms/application-for-admission-form.pdf] and fax to604.443.8450

Visit us at one of ourcampus locations.[/about/college-information/contact-us/]

After you apply, you can check application status [https://bannerweb.vcc.ca/prod/bwskalog.P_DispLoginNon] to see if all of the requirements have beenmet or to update contact information. Please use the temporary login ID and Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you used to complete your originalonline application.

Program Description

Graduates of the program will have acquired the knowledge and ability to:

Perform the role of a pharmacy technician in accordance with current legal, ethical and professional standards.Incorporate knowledge of pharmaceutical sciences to provide optimal pharmacy services.Prepare pharmaceutical products safely and accurately using a variety of distribution systems.Perform drug purchasing and inventory management duties.Use technology applicable to pharmacy practice.Participate in quality assurance programs.Perform administrative functions to support the operation of the pharmacy.Communicate effectively in the workplace.

In British Columbia, Pharmacy Technicians are being regulated by the College of Pharmacists of BC. In order to become a Regulated Pharmacy Technician(RPT), there are four steps that must be completed. The first step is to complete an accredited Pharmacy Technician Program. Vancouver CommunityCollege's Pharmacy Technician program is an accredited program.

For information regarding the other steps, please see the BC. College of Pharmacist's website.[http://www.bcpharmacists.org/about_us/key_initiatives/index/articles/27.php]

Graduates of the program find employment in hospital and community pharmacies.

Information about graduate outcomes [http://www.vcc.ca/vccir/deptUploads/outcomes.html]

Instructional Activities, Design and Delivery Mode

4/5/2015 Pharmacy Technician - Vancouver Community College

http://www.vcc.ca/programscourses/program-areas/health-sciences/pharmacy-technician/#progDescription 2/5

Admission Requirements

This program is offered on a full time basis. Each semester must be successfully completed before enrolling in the next semester. A major emphasis of thisprogram is active student participation. Throughout the program the instructor will encourage the students to become increasingly more self directed andresponsible for their own learning. Students are expected to come to class well prepared for active participation in classroom and lab activities.

Instructional activities include lectures, guided discussions, group work, audio-visual presentations, demonstrations, dispensing labs, compounding labs,aseptic technique labs, case studies, role rehearsals and field trips. The lab component of the program provides the learner with the opportunity to integratepractice and theory in a simulated pharmacy setting.

Semester 1 focuses on community and long term care pharmacy practice. Semester 1 is 11 weeks in duration. Students must successfully complete allcourses in Semester 1 before enrolling in Semester 2.

Semester 2 focuses on hospital pharmacy practice, including the preparation of sterile products. Semester 2 is 11 weeks in duration. Students mustsuccessfully complete all courses in Semester 2 before enrolling in Semester 3.

Semester 3 includes a practicum in a community and hospital pharmacy. Semester 3 is 8 weeks in duration.

Evaluation of Student Learning

Students’ progress in both the classroom and the lab setting will be evaluated. Theoretical concepts will be evaluated through quizzes, case studies, projects,presentations and written assignments.

Evaluation of practical skills will be based on checklists and practical exams.

For further information, please call 778.783.5050.

Pharmacy Technician Faculty

Sue Aro, BSc (Pharm), RPh, MEd

Wayne J. Rubner, BSc (Pharm), RPh, PID

Sam Louie, BSc (Pharm)

Paul A.E. Polachek, BSc (Pharm), RPh

Admission Requirements

General

VCC welcomes applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

As Vancouver Community College is a post-secondary institution committed to educating adult learners, applicants should be 18 years of age or older or agraduate of a secondary school.

Please note that you must submit official transcripts and educational documents to support your application; unfortunately, we cannot accept photocopies orfax versions.

Program Specific

Grade 12 graduation or equivalentEnglish 12 with a B or equivalent and English language proficiency [http://www.vcc.ca/applying/registration-services/english-language-proficiency-requirements/] is determined through three years of full time, face-to-face secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution whereEnglish is the language of instruction and is also the one of the country’s official languages. (Please note: Institutional assessment tests are notacceptable for entry into the Pharmacy Technician program)For those applicants who do not meet the English Language Proficiency requirements, only the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) andInternational English Language Testing System (IELTS) are accepted, as per the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs. [<ahref=] The scores required are listed below.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Internet-based test (iBT)Speaking 23Writing 25Reading 22Listening 21Total 91

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test onlySpeaking 6Writing 6Reading 6Listening 6Overall Band 6.5

Precalculus 11 with a C+ or higher, or Math 0871 [http://www.vcc.ca/programscourses/courses/math-11---part-2-math-0871/] with a C+ or higheror successful completion of the VCC Health Sciences Math Assessment [http://www.vcc.ca/assessments/] with 80% or higherChemistry 11 or equivalent with a C or higher