Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians enjoy rewarding careers as vital members of the healthcare team—trained to prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. They measure, mix, count out, label and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

Once You Complete the Program

Graduates of the IRSC Pharmacy Technician program take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, and may seek employment in a retail pharmacy, hospital or nursing facility.

Getting Started

Selection for the Pharmacy Technician program is on a first-come, first-served basis. This is based on submission of the requirements outlined in the Pharmacy Technician Application Book.

Illicit drug use, background check, convictions and immunization status may prevent future employment as a pharmacy technician. In addition, externship sites, employers, and State Boards of Pharmacy have regulations about drug use, criminal backgrounds, and immunization status.

For more information, contact:
Jessica Fulton, Program Director
jfulton@irsc.edu

Pharmacy Technician Program Information Sessions

Upcoming sessions:

Applying to the Pharmacy Technician Program

The application for the Spring 2025 program will be available after June 3, 2024. The deadline to apply is November 22, 2024 (or until full).

To begin the application process:

Read the Pharmacy Application Booklet.
Complete and submit the IRSC Application for the Pharmacy Technician program ($30 fee; keep a copy of your receipt.)

Apply Here

Note: If at any time during the application process you have a change in personal information (name change, address, phone number or emails), submit the changes through MyPioneerPortal and to the Health Science Division at 772-462-7550.

Licensure Requirements

Indian River State College offers a number of different degrees and certificates leading to professional licensure in the state of Florida. Some professions require both a degree and the successful completion of additional criteria such as licensure exams, field placements, or clinical hours. Student eligibility to apply to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) in the State of Florida includes possession of a valid form of identification. Please visit the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board website to ensure your eligibility.

If you are a student who may choose to reside outside of Florida or one of the compact states after graduation, IRSC cannot confirm whether this degree program meets educational requirements for professional licensure/certification in your state. Some states have requirements in addition to the program’s curriculum.

Upon graduating from Indian River State College Pharmacy Technician program, a graduate may be eligible to obtain a Registered Pharmacy Technician license in Florida. The requirements can be found at https://floridaspharmacy.gov/licensing/registered-pharmacy-technician/

Completion of the Pharmacy Technician requirements makes you eligible to apply to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) in Florida. The PTCB provides the requirements for obtaining and maintaining national pharmacy certification.

https://www.ptcb.org/credentials/certified-pharmacy-technician

https://www.ptcb.org/guidebook/maintaining-ptcb-certifications

Accreditation

The Pharmacy Technician program at Indian River State College is accredited by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP).

Additional Program Information

Pharmacy Management

Our Pharmacy program partners with PioneerRx, the top pharmacy management system in the industry. For more information, visit PioneerRx. See how PioneerRx compares to other software vendors.

HOSA

This is a national organization which supplements and complements the health occupations education curriculum. HOSA provides students in secondary, postsecondary and collegiate programs with opportunities to develop personal, leadership and career skills needed by healthcare providers. HOSA helps develop the total person, not just job-specific skills. The rapidly changing healthcare system needs workers who are technically skilled, people-oriented and capable of accepting leadership positions as a member of a team. Learn more.

Career Training

Students enrolled in Career Training programs build sophisticated skills. Apprenticeship programs feature on-the-job training. For course descriptions, see the College Catalog.