Get to Know our Pharmacy Technician Program, with our Featured Student Spotlight Series
If you are interested in a career as a Pharmacy Technician, choose HDMC! At High Desert Medical College, we specialize in training students just like you for great careers in the healthcare field. Students choose HDMC because we offer focused career training programs that are achievable in a short amount of time and are designed to provide the competitive skills needed to confidently enter the job market. Plus, few other schools offer the supportive community culture combined with career placement assistance that HDMC provides.
Check out this Student Spotlight, featuring HDMC Pharmacy Technician student Shalisa Screws, to learn more about HDMC, our 34-week Pharmacy Technician diploma program, and why so many students just like you choose HDMC for their healthcare career training. Get to know us better, with this edition of our Featured Student Spotlight Series.
Shalisa Screws, Pharmacy Technician program, HDMC Temecula
Shalisa Screws is a student at HDMC Temecula in the Pharmacy Technician program. Shalisa was drawn to HDMC because of what she saw on the HDMC website. Reading the webpage, Shalisa immediately connected with HDMC’s Path to Purpose, and when she saw the Pharmacy Technician program, she knew what her personal calling was. Shalisa says, “I chose to attend HDMC, for the four words that I read on its welcome page: Your Path To Purpose. I was looking for my path and through HDMC’s site I had found just that, when I saw that they were offering classes for Pharmacy Technician, which I was always curious and interested in. So, I decided to take that leap of faith and months later while working towards my completion, I am glad that I did.”
Shalisa’s instructor nominated her for the Student Spotlight because of her positive attitude and energy. Of Shalisa, Temecula instructor Michelle Lopez said, “Shalisa is a pleasure to have in class. Shalisa comes to class every day one hour early and is always prepared to learn more and help her fellow classmates! She brightens up the classroom and her energy feeds off to everyone in class including myself.”
The Pharmacy Technician Program at HDMC
HDMC’s Pharmacy Technician program is designed to prepare students with the practical skills and critical theoretical knowledge necessary for entry-level employment as pharmacy technicians. The diploma program is 34 semester credits, and can be completed in as few as 34 weeks! HDMC’s flexible hybrid learning model includes a combination of hands-on instruction and online theory coursework. HDMC’s flexible hybrid-online programs make 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.
Learning from dedicated, experienced instructors, students in HDMC’s Pharmacy Technician program learn the practical skills they need to enter the job market with confidence. Students in HDMC’s 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.
Upon completion of the 34-week program, graduates 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).
HDMC graduates enter the job market with 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 Shalisa choose HDMC’s Pharmacy Technician program because HDMC’s program is focused, achievable in a short amount of time, and provides the competitive skills needed for today’s job market. Why should you choose HDMC for your career training? 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 career as a pharmacy technician, 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.