Albany Technical College will hold a ribbon-cutting at 10:00 am, Thursday, November 14, in the Nathaniel Cross Health Technology building, room 147. This renovation is a simulation of a retail area that demonstrates what students in the Pharmacy Technology Program will experience when in a real-world environment. Employers in the community, graduates, and current students will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting Thursday.

The new lab is a community/retail pharmacy simulated lab that will allow students to gain practice and knowledge on how to operate and perform as a pharmacy technician who works at a Walgreens, CVS, or independent community pharmacy. They will learn communication skills, problem-solving skills, how to receive correctly, transcribe, and fill a prescription and use a POS, as well as many more job-related tasks.

Dr. JaNee Mobley, Program Chair of Pharmacy Technology, stated, “We are proud to announce the expansion of the program here at Albany Technical College with the addition of a new retail training lab. This enhancement to the curriculum will teach real-world practical applications, preparing our students for jobs right here in the community.”

Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists prepare prescription medications, provide customer service, and perform administrative duties within a pharmacy setting. Pharmacy technicians generally are responsible for receiving prescription requests, counting tablets, and labeling bottles.

Pharmacy technicians have the following prospects for employment: retail locations, hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional facility pharmacies. 

The Pharmacy Technology degree at Albany Technical College is designed to provide an individual with the entry-level skills required for success in a retail pharmacy or a hospital-based pharmacy department. Learning opportunities develop academic and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and replacement. Graduates are prepared to function as pharmacy technicians in positions requiring preparations of medications according to prescription under the supervision of a pharmacist.

The Pharmacy Technology diploma at Albany Technical College is designed to enable the student to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for employment within a pharmacy. Program graduates will be able to perform a variety of technical duties related to preparing and dispensing drugs following standard procedures and laws under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. A variety of clinical experiences is designed to integrate theory and practice. Graduates will be employable as an entry-level pharmacy technician.

Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services. The increased number of middle-aged and older adults—who use more prescription drugs than younger people—will spur demand for pharmacy workers throughout the projection period. Also, as scientific advances lead to new medications, and as more people obtain prescription drug coverage, pharmacy workers will be needed in growing numbers.