Featured Student Spotlight: Alaiza Ruiz, Pharmacy Technician Program
Are you interested in a healthcare career? Have you considered training for a potential career as a pharmacy technician? Pharmacy technicians are the health professionals who keep the pharmaceutical system running smoothly. Pharmacy technicians fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, establish and maintain patient record files, submit insurance claim forms, and manage prescription and over-the-counter medication inventories.
At High Desert Medical College, we offer a Pharmacy Technician training program designed to provide the skills, knowledge, and practical experience you need to enter this career path. If you are interested in a potential career as a pharmacy technician, HDMC might be a good choice for you! Check out this Featured Student Spotlight, featuring HDMC PT student Alaiza Ruiz, to learn more about HDMC and our 34-week Pharmacy Technician diploma program. Get to know us better, with this edition of our Featured Student Spotlight Series.
Alaiza Ruiz, Pharmacy Technician program, HDMC Temecula
Alaiza attends the Pharmacy Technician Program at HDMC. Before her brother started attending HDMC’s Pharmacy Technician program, Alaiza had never thought about a career in the medical field. “I had never heard about this school until my brother started attending the same program a couple of years ago. If I’m being honest, I was never interested in pharmacy or the medical field in general but I’m glad I decided to try it out.” Alaiza credits her HDMC instructors for inspiring her. “Thanks to my excellent teacher I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate the pharmaceutical field… I am incredibly grateful for my experience at this school and for my teacher who is extremely helpful.”
Instructor Michelle Lopez chose Alaiza for the Featured Student Spotlight because she has a great attitude and is a joy to have in class. Lopez said, “Alaiza is a delight to have a class. She shows up to class early every day with a smile. She is always offering a helping hand to her classmates, and I want her to know how much I appreciate her.”
Alaiza is a student in HDMC Temecula’s Pharmacy Technician program. In the Pharmacy Technician program, students learn the practical skills and critical theoretical knowledge necessary for entry-level employment as pharmacy technicians. Learning from dedicated, experienced instructors, students in HDMC’s Pharmacy Technician program learn how to:
- Fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist
- Utilize relevant software applications
- Recognize the classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs
- Understand brand, generic, and OTC (over the counter) medications
- Adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations
- Comprehend and perform insurance procedures
The Pharmacy Technician program includes an externship component, in which students complete 160 hours in an externship placement. Through the externship opportunity, students are able to practice their skills in a real-world environment.
The Pharmacy Technician program can be completed in as few as 34 weeks! The program is offered in a hybrid-online format, including a combination of hands-on instruction and online theory coursework. HDMC’s flexible hybrid learning model makes career training accessible even for busy, working students. Students can attend school to pursue their healthcare career dream, even while working their current job and/or attending to family and caretaking responsibilities.
Graduates of the Pharmacy Technician program receive a Certificate of Completion, Pharmacy Technician diploma and are eligible to apply for the California state licensure from the Board of Pharmacy.* Graduates of HDMC’s program are also prepared to test for the industry-recognized Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Upon completion of their program, HDMC graduates enter the job market with confidence, thanks to the support of HDMC’s Career Services department. High Desert Medical College is committed to assisting our program graduates in the pursuit of stable, rewarding employment, and the Career Services department provides every student with a wide range of career support services, including resume writing assistance, job searching and networking, interviewing skills, and comprehensive job placement assistance. While the school cannot guarantee employment upon graduation, HDMC instructors and Career Services staff consistently seek to assist students with employment opportunities prior to and after graduation. At HDMC we are committed to offering both a quality educational experience, and individualized job placement assistance, so graduates can utilize the knowledge and skills they have gained to successfully enter their chosen career fields.
Students like Alaiza choose HDMC’s Pharmacy Technician program because HDMC’s program is focused, comprehensive, and provides the competitive skills needed for today’s job market. Why should you choose HDMC for your pharmacy technician training? Students just like you come to HDMC for practical, skill-based training, career placement assistance, and a supportive community. With HDMC, you can gain the skills, knowledge, and practical experience you need to enter the healthcare field with confidence. If you are ready to take the next step towards your pharmacy technician career, High Desert Medical College is here to help you make it happen! Call 888-633-4362 or click here to get started today!
*Licensing by the California State Board of Pharmacy requires fingerprinting, criminal background check, and official High School/GED transcripts to be submitted with the State Board of Pharmacy application. This process may take up to 45 days to complete after graduating from the program; a criminal background may delay the process.