Thank you for your interest in the Virginia Institute for Pharmacy Technicians pharmacy technician certification class. The program is a 12 week course designed to prepare students to become pharmacy technicians, and to help prepare to take either the national exam (PTCB) or the state examination. The course is an approved training program with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. The classes are held in our facilities near the intersection of Broad St. and Staples Mill Road in mid-town Richmond Virginia.

This is an adult-learning course without prerequisites. The standardized certification exams, however, have some prerequisites. These requirements will be reviewed during the first class.

Schedule:

Our next evening session will begin May 11th and will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The class runs until July 27th. Our next daytime session will begin May 14th and will be held on Fridays from 10am - 12pm. The class runs until July 30th.

Registration:

The $100 registration fee (non-refundable) is required in order to reserve a seat in the class. The remaining balance is due by the first day of class. The tuition fee is $300. Please download the registration form for additional information.

The two texts used include Morton's The Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacy Calculations. These books will be available for purchase the first day of class, for $80. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Holly Naggy at holly.naggy@rairx.com or at 804-285-8055 ext 128.

Pharmacy Overview

The course begins with a brief history of pharmacy and the technician. An overview of the practice of pharmacy includes subjects important to retail, hospital, industry, institutional, and all fields of pharmacy technician practice. Technician roles and responsibilities are discussed for each area. Some of the class subjects related to these practice areas include inventory and automation, insurance and third parties, parenterals and chemotherapy, and extemporaneous compounding.

Math

Four of the two-hour class sessions cover the mathematic skills related to the pharmacy technician field. Math is taught in the class and assigned as homework for practice. Additional tutoring sessions are available for students who struggle with this topic.

Law

Pharmacy law in the State of Virginia and across the United States is taught as a component of several class sessions. This topic includes labeling requirements, controlled substances, compounding laws, and regulatory agencies including the Virginia board of Pharmacy, the FDA, and the DEA.

Pharmacy Practice

Pharmacy Practice Basics are covered in a series of classes on medical terminology, prescription components, routes of administration, drug information, pharmaceutics, drug interactions, and adverse drug reactions.

Top 50 Drugs

Throughout the course students learn the top 50 most common prescription drugs, their purpose of use, and their generic names.

Practice Tests

The last two weeks of class include review, study tips, and practice tests to prepare students for the certification exams.

Links:

Class Location:

Virginia Institute of Pharmacy Technicians
2002 Staples Mill Road
Henrico, VA 23230