Pharmacy Technician, Associate of Applied Science

The mission of the Associate of Applied Science in Pharmacy Technician program is to educate and graduate pharmacy technicians capable of assisting pharmacists in the preparation and dispensing of medications. The program seeks to prepare graduates capable of working in a variety of healthcare settings such as hospitals, retail, long-term care facilities, home healthcare agencies, clinic pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, and drug wholesalers. The Falls Church, Glen Allen, Newport News, and Virginia Beach locations are approved Virginia Board of Pharmacy training sites. This program requires students to purchase a health sciences kit from the University.

All pharmacy technician students must complete a criminal background check prior to beginning the program. At the student’s expense, an independent background investigation organization performs a federal and all-state criminal background check. Upon disclosure or discovery of convictions or pending cases including, but not limited to, felony(s) or conviction(s) involving theft, drug or pharmacy-related offenses, or physical harm to others, a student is ineligible for the program. The cost for the criminal background check is located in the catalog addendum.

At the end of the program, students are able to:

  • Apply the pharmacy principles and legal practices in accordance with state regulations and guidelines.
  • Describe the regulations and guidelines for managing pharmaceutical records.
  • Perform mathematical calculations necessary for preparation and delivery of pharmaceutical products.

This program typically takes 32 months to complete for part-time enrollment and 16 months to complete for students enrolled full-time.

Required courses for AAS Pharmacy Technician (15 core, 5 arts and sciences) = 20 courses or 90 credit hours

Core Requirements (15 courses or 67.5 credits)

MED 110Anatomy and Physiology I

4.5

MED 120Medical Terminology

4.5

MED 210Anatomy and Physiology II

4.5

MED 240Pharmacology I

4.5

MED 245Pharmacology II

4.5

MIB 130Diseases of the Human Body

4.5

PHT 110Pharmacy Calculations

4.5

PHT 220Institutional & Community Pharmacy Ops

4.5

PHT 225Pharmacy Informatics & Technology

4.5

PHT 230Institutional & Community Pharmacy Lab I

4.5

PHT 240Institutional & Community Pharm Lab II

4.5

PHT 250Advanced Administration Technical Lab

4.5

PHT 260Pharmacy Maintenance, Safety & Quality A

4.5

PHT 270Administrative Inpatient and Outpatient

4.5

PHT 290Pharmacy Externship

4.5

Arts and Sciences Requirements (5 courses or 22.5 credits)

See Arts and Sciences section