The mission of the Pharmacy Technician Training Program is to train qualified applicants to become pharmacy technicians, proficient in all areas of health system pharmacy services as an integral part of the YNHH healthcare team.
- Courses provide an introduction to pharmacy concepts and the profession.
- Simulated labs provide the opportunity to get hands-on experience with technology and develop the skills needed to be a successful technician.
- Experiential courses provide real-world training under the guidance of experienced technicians and pharmacists and allow students to apply both conceptual and simulated skills to a real world environment.
What is a pharmacy technician?
A pharmacy technician works under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist, assisting in pharmacy activities that do not require the professional judgment of a pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians are the foundation of a pharmacy’s distributive and clinical functions.
Pharmacy technicians work in many different settings, including retail locations (such as neighborhood pharmacies or grocery stores); hospitals, clinics and outpatient centers; assisted living facilities; nursing homes; tele-pharmacies; and nuclear pharmacies. The YNHH training program focuses primarily on practice within a hospital setting.
Responsibilities
Technician skills and responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
- Replenishment of automated technology
- Management of emergency medications
- Repackaging medications from bulk
- Preparing sterile and non-sterile compounds in accordance with USP standards
- Adhering to medication safety and regulatory standards
- Assist with medication reconciliation
- Assist with the management of medication inventory
- Training of newly hired technicians
- Triage nursing medication availability
Program Overview: What will I be learning?
Courses:
- Introduction to Pharmacy
- Pharmaceutical Calculations 1
- Pharmaceutical Calculations 2
- Ethics + High Reliability Organizations
- Investigational Drug Overview
- Pharmacy Federal and CT State Law (The Joint Commission)
- Pharmacy Automation/Technology
- Medication Safety
- Non-Sterile Compounding
- Pharmacology & Anatomy and Physiology
- Pharmacy Purchasing, Billing, Inventory and Reimbursement
- Sterile Compounding
- Technician Certification and Program Accreditation
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Terminology
Simulation:
- Dispensing/Filling Lab
- Non-Sterile Compounding
- Sterile Compounding
- Technology/Automation (Pyxis®, carousel, Kitcheck®, packager, DoseEdge®)
Practicum:
- Pharmacy Technician Externship - Ambulatory/Specialty
- Pharmacy Technician Externship - Electives/MRT/Automation technology
- Pharmacy Technician Externship – Inpatient Operations
Program Length and Duration
The program includes 640 hours of teaching, simulation and experiential learning which takes place over a 19-week period.
- The first 9 weeks are dedicated to lecture-based didactics and simulation experiences. Classes are held Monday - Friday, 8 am - 2:30 pm throughout weeks 1-8; and Monday - Friday, 8 am - 3:30 pm during week 9.
- The second 10 weeks comprises the experiential component. Program hours during the experiential component are variable, with shadowing opportunities on weekdays and weekends, on day and evening shifts.
Admission Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.0
- Adequate performance on a mathematics minimumcompetency exam
- Immunization records as required by Yale New Haven Health System
What you need to apply:
- Completed program application
- High school or other degree-program transcripts
- Resume
- Three letters of recommendation:
- One character reference
- Two academic or work references
- One-page letter of intent with professional goals and your reasons for pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician.
- Interview
- You will be invited for an interview based upon an evaluation of your application.
The Pharmacy Technician Training Program now offers rolling admission. Contact Sharee Parker, Pharmacy Technician Training Program Coordinator, for information regarding dates.
Yale New Haven Hospital
Department of Pharmacy Services
55 Park Street
New Haven, CT 06519
203-680-6392
Sharee.Parker@ynhh.org
Technician Training Program application
Acceptance
Decisions for acceptance are based on your application and interview performance.
Workforce Alliance may be able to provide funding and resources to help students attend the Pharmacy Technician Training Program.
Learn more.