Pharmacy Technology, A.S.

Casper College offers a choice of two options for the student interested in assisting the pharmacist in health care agencies and retail settings, the Pharmacy Technician Certificate and the Associate of Science in Pharmacy Technology. Both options consist of pharmacy technician as well as nonpharmacy technician courses, and students are integrated into all aspects of college life. In addition to the Casper College application for admission, a student desiring admission to either program must complete and submit to the director a departmental application when all eligibility requirements are met.

Background check and drug/alcohol policy

Students enrolled in any of the health science programs will participate in clinical experiences in a variety of agencies. Prior to participating in the clinical experiences, students will be subject to that agency’s requirements for a background check, drug testing and/or drug abuse prevention policies. Students are then subject to the random drug testing policy of that agency.

Following graduation, several of the state and/or national licensing or certification (registry) boards, including the Wyoming State Board of Pharmacy, may refuse to allow a graduate to sit for the required exam or issue a license or certification to a person who has a prior felony conviction or proven history of drug or alcohol abuse. Applicants to whom this applies should consult the program director for further information.

Clinical accessibility policy

The pharmacy technology program utilizes a variety of health care agencies in the community for clinical experience for the students. If you have been employed in one or more of the agencies and are not eligible for rehire as an employee, the agency may not permit you to participate in the essential clinical component of the program.

Please contact the human resources department of the affected agency and request documentation that states the agency position on your participation in the clinical component of the program. If you receive a negative response from the agency, you are automatically ineligible to register for PHTK courses. A response indicating you will be permitted to attend clinicals in the agency will be given to the program director prior to the selection process for admission to the program. If you are unable to fulfill clinical requirements due to a previous employer issue and have not complied with the above, you could be dismissed from the program.

Core performance standards for admission and progression

Critical thinking: Critical thinking ability to exercise non-clinical and clinical judgment in a timely manner.

Interpersonal: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact professionally and therapeutically with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

Communication: Communication skills sufficient for interaction with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups in verbal, nonverbal and written form.

Mobility: Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, safely perform treatments/procedures, and assist patients/clients; lift and transfer patients/clients; manipulate equipment; walk and/or stand for extended periods of time.

Motor skills: Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective patient/client care.

Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and safely assess health needs.

Visual: Visual ability with or without corrective lenses sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in safe patient/client care.

Tactile: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment of patient/ client care.

Professionalism: The ability to understand and demonstrate sufficient respect for others in non-verbal, verbal, and written communications in the classroom, laboratory, clinical settings, in the Casper College community, and in related public settings. The ability to demonstrate sufficient understanding of the cumulative effect that behavior, appearance, and communication has on the health science professional image.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for admission into the certificate program or the associate of science degree program, the applicant must:

1. Have graduated from high school or have earned a GED;
2. Submit a completed application form with all high school and college transcripts and GED certification (if applicable) to the Office of Admissions and Student Records and a departmental application form to the pharmacy technology director by March 1 for primary consideration;
3. Have a composite score of 18 or better on theA CT if out of high school less than two years, and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better; or
4. Have taken the COMPASS test and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better, or successfully completed college courses; and
5. Have completed
   ENGL 1010
     for the AS degree program with a “C” or better; and
6. Have completed
   ZOO 2040
     and
   ZOO 2041
     for the AS degree program or
   BIOL 1000
     for the certificate program; and
7. Have completed
   CHEM 1005
    /
   CHEM 1006
     with a “C” or better;
8. Demonstrate proficiency in medical terminology by completing
   HLTK 1200
     (or its equivalent) with a “C” or better;
9. Have a college cumulative GPA of 2.3 or better for admission or readmission;
10. Participate in a personal interview.

Requirements for maintaining enrollment

To maintain ongoing enrollment in the program, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Have evidence of a recent health examination completed by the applicant’s physician or advanced nurse practitioner upon starting the first semester;
2. Have evidence of immunizations/skin tests as required by agencies providing clinical experiences;
3. Test negative on any drug or alcohol screening required by agencies providing clinical experiences;
4. Provide evidence of current health insurance and maintain the health insurance while in either pharmacy technology program;
5. Have a 2.0 or better GPA for each semester and a “C” or better in all pharmacy technology, allied health, and laboratory science courses to progress in the program;
6. Maintain a “technician-in-training” permit.