Online orientation is designed to help you familiarize yourself with the tools you need to succeed, to assist you in making an informed decision on the Pharmacy Technician program, and help facilitate your transition and integration into the School of Continuing Education. By participating in this orientation you will: Learn what it means to be a Pharmacy Technician student at the School of Continuing Education and to be a part of this unique and innovative community. Be more familiar with the academic resources that are available to help you succeed. Feel more comfortable with campus processes such as program requirements, registration and program cost. Learn more about counseling support services. Feel more confident about your transition to the School of Continuing Education.

Upon successful completion of the online orientation, you will be able to demonstrate an understanding of: The requirements for a chosen educational pathway. Proven academic planning strategies. Successful registration procedures. The School of Continuing Education information, policies and procedures Let’s get started!

What does a Pharmacy Technician do? Assists pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications for patients. Keeps accurate records of medications dispensed. Cleans and sterilizes equipment in accordance with prescribed methods. Maintains high customer service standards. For information on employment outlook and wage data, please visit

Where do Pharmacy Technicians work? Most students initially seek employment at: Institutional and retail pharmacies. With additional training, experience, and education, Pharmacy Technicians can also be employed as: Systems Trainers Corporate Recruiters Prior Authorization Technicians Lead/Charge Technicians Pharmacy Insurance Billers Sales Representatives Buyer/Purchaser Auditors/Analysts

What can you expect when you work as a pharmacy technician? You will be an important part of a health care team and you will need to be able to think on your own and problem solve. Math is a key part of any pharmacy technician job. You must be able to perform basic pharmacy math calculations. Many pharmacies are open long hours or even 24 hours a day and include weekends and holidays. You will likely need to be flexible in your availability to work. Standing for long periods of time and some lifting is required in many pharmacy technician positions. Pharmacy is a rewarding career where you can feel satisfied that you had a positive impact on someone’s life.

How do I qualify to work as a Pharmacy Technician? To be employed as a Pharmacy Technician you must be licensed as a Pharmacy Technician with the State of California Board of Pharmacy. Completing SCE's Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program is one method by which you may qualify to obtain a license as Pharmacy Technician. The other two ways are certification by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or training provided by a branch of the military You must be 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED. You must be fingerprinted and supply a social security number. No prior record of substance abuse or drug abuse conviction. NOTE: If you have been convicted of any offense other than a minor traffic violation you will be required to declare this on your state application for a license. A criminal offense may affect your eligibility to become a licensed Pharmacy Technician.

SCE Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program: Prepares students for entry level positions as Pharmacy Technicians in: - Institutional facilities such as skilled nursing, long-term care, or hospital. - Community retail pharmacies such as Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens. Prepares students to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam. The PTCB exam is OPTIONAL, but highly recommended. The program is nationally accredited by the American Society of Health- systems Pharmacists, ASHP. Upon completion of the SCE Pharmacy Technician Certificate, students may enroll in the SCE In-Patient and Out-Patient Externship Program. Students who complete this optional externship program will receive an additional certificate from ASHP.

SCE Program Details You must be at least 18 years of age to enroll in the SCE Pharmacy Technician program. The Pharmacy Technician program has a strict attendance policy. For each class you enroll in, you must attend the first day of class, even if you are on the waiting list. A student may only have two absences per class. If you fail to attend the first class, you will be dropped from the class. School of Continuing Education (SCE) Counselors can assist you in planning your schedule with a Student Educational Plan (SEP). The School of Continuing Education (SCE) is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The SCE Pharmacy Technician program is a noncredit program based on 240 instructional hours; not college units. Courses are not transferable to college programs and will not fulfill course requirements for a college degree. Courses are held during a 12-week trimester (Fall, Winter and Spring). Summer session is 6-weeks. Not all classes are offered in summer. All Pharmacy Technician classes are offered at the Anaheim Campus. Externships are completed at institutional and community pharmacies with whom SCE has a contractual relationship.

Certificate Program Requirements All requirements must be completed within five (5) years Nine (9) required courses for State registration: MEOC 130 Introduction to Pharmacy Technician MEOC 104 Medical Terminology MEOC 140 Pharmaceutical Mathematics MEOC 121 Pharmacology I MEOC 122 Pharmacology II MEOC 135 Human Relations for Healthcare Workers MEDO 230 Pharmacy Operations Lab MEDO 220 Out-Patient Lab for the Pharmacy Technician MEDO 221 In- Patient Lab for the Pharmacy Technician

Requirements continued… Keyboarding Proficiency Requirement: (one of the following) - Pass a 3 minute, 30 net words per minute (nwpm) keyboarding proficiency exam - Receive a passing grade in COMP 685 Beginning Keyboarding Externships are optional, but highly recommended. Upon completion of the externship component, ASHP accredited program requirements are met. MEDO 317 Out-Patient Externship for the Pharmacy Technician (120 hours) MEDO 316 In-Patient Externship for the Pharmacy Technician (200 hours) It is recommended that students begin with Introduction to Pharmacy Technician and/or Medical Terminology. Completion time varies based on your individual situation.

Prerequisites Some classes have a "prerequisite" which means the student must have certain knowledge before entering the course. Prerequisites are requirements that will prepare you to take the next course. If a class requires a prerequisite, you will be blocked from registering for that class until the prerequisite has been completed. Students must take prerequisites before they can enroll in certain classes. Check the specific class that you would like to register for any prerequisites. If you are still unsure if a class has a prerequisite, meet with a counselor for assistance.

Program Costs SCE Pharmacy Technician classes are offered at no charge to the student. The classes are FREE! Students are required to pay for: Lab coat- Call the bookstore for current lab coat cost ( ). Required textbooks Student Parking Permit if you plan to park your car on the school's parking lots. Permits can be purchased at the Admissions and Registration counter located at all 3 centers. -Day permits are $2 or $35 for a half yearly permit (January - June and July - December). -The permit allows you to park at both Cypress and Fullerton College campuses.

Holds A Hold on your account means that you have outstanding fees/fines. You may have a hold on your account if you owe fees at either SCE or at Cypress College or Fullerton College. Holds MUST BE cleared prior to registration for an Assessment Session. Visit the Admissions and Registration counter at any SCE Center for assistance.

Challenge Exams Medical Terminology or Pharmaceutical Math Challenge Exams You may take the Medical Terminology Challenge Exam if: You have successfully completed a medical terminology course at another educational institution, or are a medical professional. You may take the Pharmaceutical Mathematics Challenge Exam if: You have successfully completed a Pharmaceutical Math course at another educational institution.

Taking the Medical Terminology or Pharmacy Math Challenge Exam: Schedule a 1 hour appointment with a SCE counselor PRIOR to beginning the Medical Terminology or Pharmacy Math course. If you attend the first day of class, you are no longer eligible to take the challenge exam. You may take the challenge exam only once. Bring acceptable documentation to the appointment. Exams will not be administered without this documentation. Acceptable documents can be one of the following: Unofficial transcript Certificate of completion Professional license

How to Register Step 1- Banner ID Apply for a Banner identification (ID) number (formally called Student ID or User ID) at the Admissions and Registration counter located at all 3 centers or online at You cannot register for classes without a Banner ID number. DO NOT wait until registration day to obtain a Banner ID number as the process can take up to 48 hours for you to receive your ID number. If you have a Fullerton or Cypress College ID number, you can use the same ID number as a student enrolling at SCE.

Keyboarding Proficiency Exam Taking the Keyboarding Proficiency Exam: No appointment is necessary. Visit the Business/Computer Skills Lab at the Anaheim or Wilshire centers and ask to take the exam for the Pharmacy Technician Program. You may take it multiple times until you pass.

Step 2- Online Orientation Complete the Online Pharmacy Technician Orientation and pass the quizzes. You must complete the orientation and pass the quizzes in order to register for classes. If you do not meet both requirements and try to register, you will receive an error message ("cohort restriction") and you will not be able to register for the classes.

Step 3- Online Registration Do not wait until Registration day to learn how to register. Attend an Online Registration Workshop located at the SCE Anaheim Campus. See the current SCE Class Schedule for Registration Workshops times and room locations. Or view the Registration Tutorial Video for instructions on “How to Register” via the SCE webpage Pharmacy Technician Registration is online and first-come/first- served. Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. Classes fill very quickly! (within minutes!!) Be Ready

Contact Information SCE Anaheim Campus, 1830 W. Romneya Drive, Anaheim, CA Career Technical Education (CTE) Office, Room 513 (5th Floor) (714) or via at - The CTE Office handles the overall management of the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program. Career and Counseling Office, Room 215 (2nd Floor) - The Career and Counseling Office can assist with program planning, academic advising and connect you with other student service resources, such as the Learning Center, the ESL Lab, and the Disabled Student Programs and Services. - Call (714) to make an appointment with an SCE Counselor. Counselors can help you with the following: Academic Support Career Counseling College Counseling Program and Course Advisement Student Education Plans