Certificate of Achievement in Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk)

The Certificate of Achievement in Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk) is the first in a series of stackable pharmacy career certificates. This short-term, entry-level certificate serves as a direct CTE pathway for high school/rising students to pursue careers within the pharmacy profession or pursue other entry-level allied health profession. The academic curriculum, competency-based training, and transferrable skills development will result in skills and credentials necessary to secure living wage skilled positions in the pharmacy profession with the potential for promotion and opportunities for future educational advancement in pharmacy or any health care related career.

24 students are enrolled in first cohort and we anticipate 24 to successfully complete the program. The realistic projected program completion goal is 80% (19 students). Since this is a cohort-based program, enrollment will be strictly dependent on regional high school districts offering this program to their students. The goal is to expand this program to surrounding high school regions; for example, San Jose, East Bay, etc. Completion figures will also be dependent on regional Boys and Girls Club and VA support.

 

After 5 years, an increase in the number of regions that offer this cohort program will increase the number of total enrolled students by a factor of 24. For example, if there are two cohorts per year (Redwood City and San Jose school districts), we will have 48 enrolled students.

The Certificate of Achievement in Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk) is a short-term, entry-level, stackable certificate, which serves as a direct CTE pathway for high school/rising students to pursue careers within the pharmacy profession and various entry-level allied health professions. The academic curriculum, competency-based training, and transferrable skills development will result in skills and credentials necessary to secure living wage skilled positions within the pharmacy profession with the potential for promotion and opportunities for future educational advancement in pharmacy or any health care related career.

 

This is a low barrier CTE pathway program which empowers students to achieve their goals as members of the health care workforce beginning in high school through adulthood. The “stackable” series of certificates provides equitable educational and career advancement opportunities to ensure all California student populations reach their full potential while earning a living wage which eventually leads to a high wage position.

 

Students will identify their personal passions, values, personality traits, aptitude and assess the degree of allied health occupational compatibility correlated to them. They will also identify the ideal lifestyle associated with their personal career goals essential for living a balanced and satisfying lifestyle.

 

Students will acquire, develop, and strengthen essential transferrable skills required for effective collaboration between all health care professionals and for their success in the health care field. This includes communication, teamwork, ethics, professionalism, stress and time management, decision-making, building resilience, identifying learning strategies, demonstrating effective study skills, and goal setting—all essential for productive work habits and attitudes relevant in health care careers.

 

Students will research and conduct informational interviews to gather current health care career information and develop a career plan for an occupation of choice relevant to health care, listing the appropriate classes, certificates, skills and experience required specific to their personal interest. Careers include, but are not limited to: Pharmacy Technology, EMT, Paramedic/Fire Science, Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology and Veterinary Technology.

 

Students will acquire knowledge and demonstrate competency in the following disciplines: basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pharmaceutical abbreviations, pharmaceutical preparations and medication names, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical compounding, various drug formulations, complementary and alternative medicine, pharmaceutical calculations used in community practice, pharmacy law, pharmacology including diseases and medications used to treat conditions affecting body systems.

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

·      Fundamental Knowledge, Critical Thinking and Student Attitude: Upon completion of the Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk) course work, students will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and values necessary to practice as a capable and competent Pharmacy Assistant in a community pharmacy setting and/or pursue other entry-level allied health professions.

·      Clinical Skills Competency: Upon completion of the Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk) course work, students will demonstrate competency with entry-level clinical skills required of a Pharmacy Assistant in accordance to California Board of Pharmacy and pharmacy industry standards.

 

The program totals 13.5 units.  Students who complete this certificate may elect to take an additional 6 units to gain the Certificate of Achievement in Basic Pharmacy Technology and earn licensure in California as a retail pharmacy technician. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
PHT 101	Pharmacy Careers A	4	Y1Fall
PHT 102	Pharmacy Careers B	4	Y1Winter
PHT 103	Pharmacy Careers C	4	Y1 Winter/ Spring
AHS 51	Health Careers Exploration	1.5	Y1, Fall

This new program allows high school students to simultaneously obtain high school elective units and a certificate. Upon completion, they can choose to either directly enter the pharmacy workforce as a Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk) or continue their education with 6 additional units of course work (including 130 hours of externship) to obtain the Certificate of Achievement in Basic Pharmacy Technician* (stackable certificate). Students are eligible to register with the California Board of Pharmacy for a license to practice as a Pharmacy Technician. After working for an additional 370 hours as a Pharmacy Technician, they qualify to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. *students must be 18 years old to complete externship and California Board of Pharmacy licensing requirements. Students can continue on the pathway to complete Foothill College's Advanced Pharmacy Technician training program and take additional GE courses to obtain an Associate in Science Degree in Pharmacy Technology. Finally, if students wish to become a Pharmacist, they can take all required pharmacy school prerequisites offered at Foothill College without having to attend a 4-year college/university. There are no other programs at Foothill College with a pathway beginning in high school that provide students numerous career and education opportunities within the pharmacy/health care profession. The Complete Pharmacy Careers CTE Pathway: Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk)  Basic or Entry Level Pharmacy Technician  Certified Pharmacy Technician  Advanced Level Pharmacy Technician  AS Degree in Pharmacy Technology  PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)

To our knowledge, there are no similar programs already being offered in Foothill's service area. There are currently no dual enrollment Pharmacy Assistant (Aide/Clerk) programs with stackable certificates in Foothill’s service area.