Pharmacy Technology
16 courses · Santa Ana College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
PHAR 048 Introduction to Pharmacy Technology
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 Lecture
Overview of the SAC Pharmacy Technician training program. Definition of the roles and preview of the opportunities open to pharmacy technicians in various practice settings. Presentation of pharmaceutical dosage forms, the drug development process, and drug classification systems. Introduction to prescription labeling and to the law and ethics of pharmacy practice.
PHAR 051 Body Systems I
- Units
- 3.5
- Hours
- 63 Lecture
Anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of the musculoskeletal, respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular systems. Basic terminology, with emphasis on word analysis and construction, medical abbreviations, and lay terms. Trade/generic names and indications for each body system.
PHAR 052 Body Systems II
- Units
- 3.5
- Hours
- 63 Lecture
Anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of the integumentary, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Basic terminology, with emphasis on word analysis and construction, medical abbreviations, and lay terms. Trade/generic drug names and indications for medications in each body system. Emphasis on top 200 drugs.
PHAR 055 Pharmacy Calculations
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 Lecture
This course introduces students to calculations related to drug dosage and preparation of medications. Interconversion of units in the metric and common systems of measurement are included. There is emphasis on unit-cancellation for solving pharmacy situation problems.
PHAR 056 Pharmacy Operations
- Units
- 4.5
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 90 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 048 and PHAR 051 or PHAR 052 and PHAR 055 and Typing proficiency minimum of 30 wpm 95% accuracy
Hands-on training in customer service, inventory control, compounding, packaging, record-keeping, and drug distribution in the outpatient pharmacy setting. Includes prescription lab simulations and use of computers.
PHAR 056L Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- Units
- 0.5-1
- Hours
- 27-54 Lab
- Corequisite
- Concurrent enrollment in: PHAR 056
Supervised use of the Pharmacy Technology skills lab (a supplemental learning assistance course) to assist the students in developing competency in the technical skills required to successfully complete the Pharmacy Operations lab class. Additionally, this Skills Lab class allows students working in one setting of pharmacy to come back and practice skills in another setting. Skills lab class also allows students with significant time lapsed from program attendance to prepare for externship or job placements. Significant time lapsed is defined as 1 year by departmental policy in compliance with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' re-accreditation body. Lab hours verified by sign-in. One-half (0.5) unit is required for the Advanced Certificate and A.S. degree.
PHAR 057 Inpatient Pharmacy Services
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 18 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 048 and PHAR 051 or PHAR 052 and PHAR 055 and typing proficiency of 30 WPM with 95% accuracy
Technical aspects of drug distribution for the inpatient (hospital) pharmacy setting. Hands-on training in medication order processing, pharmacy patient profile maintenance, medication preparation (includes packaging), and inpatient drug distribution using manual and automated systems. Includes electronic and manual record-keeping, pharmacy law, and CQI. Hands-on training in medication reconciliation in the emergency room setting. Develop and enhance communication and patient-interviewing skills through various communication methods.
PHAR 057L Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- Units
- 0.5-1
- Hours
- 27-54 Lab
- Corequisite
- Concurrent enrollment in: PHAR 057
Supervised use of the Pharmacy Technology skills lab (a supplemental learning assistance course) to assist the students in developing competency in the technical skills required to successfully complete the Inpatient Pharmacy Services lab class (PHAR 057). Additionally, this Skills Lab class allows students working in one setting of pharmacy to come back and practice skills in another setting. Skills lab class also allows students with significant time lapsed from program attendance to prepare for externship or job placements. Significant time lapsed is defined as 1 year by departmental policy, in compliance with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' re-accreditation body. Lab hours are verified by sign-in. One-half (0.5) unit is required for the Advanced Certificate and A.S. degree.
PHAR 060 Sterile Products
- Units
- 4.5
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 90 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 048 and PHAR 051 or PHAR 052 and PHAR 055 and 30 wpm typing
Application of aseptic techniques and use of the laminar flow hood in the preparation of sterile products in accordance to USP 797. Emphasis on parenteral calculations, sterile dosage forms, and quality assurance procedures. Includes the pharmacology of antimicrobial and antineoplastic drugs.
PHAR 060L Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- Units
- 0.5-1
- Hours
- 27-54 Lab
- Corequisite
- Concurrent enrollment in: PHAR 060
Supervised use of the Pharmacy Technology skills lab (a supplemental learning assistance course) to assist the students in developing competency in the technical skills required to successfully complete the Sterile Products lab class (PHAR 060). Additionally, this Skills Lab class allows students working in one setting of pharmacy to come back and practice skills in another setting. Skills lab class also allows students with significant time lapsed from program attendance to prepare for externship or job placements. Significant time lapsed is defined as 1 year by departmental policy in compliance with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' re-accreditation body.Lab hours verified by sign-in. One-half (0.5) unit is required for the Advanced Certificate and A.S. degree.
PHAR 072A Pharmacy Technology Externship Outpatient
- Units
- 0.5-2.5
- Hours
- 27-140 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 056 and background checks, health screenings, current TB clearance, and drug test clearance (at the students expense).
On-site training in the outpatient (retail) practice setting. Students must complete PHAR 056 lab class to qualify for the outpatient rotation. Students must pass the trade-generic test prior to placement. Some sites require additional background, health screenings, and drugs tests. Completion of the outpatient rotation PHAR 072A is required for the Basic Certificate. Completion of PHAR 072A, PHAR 072B, PHAR 072C rotations (340 hours) is required for the advanced certificate and Associate Degree.
PHAR 072B Pharmacy Technology Externship Inpatient
- Units
- 0.5-1.5
- Hours
- 27-100 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 056 and PHAR 057 and background checks, health screenings, current TB clearance, and drug test clearance (at the students expense).
On-site training in the inpatient (hospital) practice setting. Students must complete the following lab courses prior to placement: PHAR 057 and PHAR 056. Students must pass the trade-generic test prior to placement. Some sites require additional background, health screenings, and drugs tests. Completion of PHAR 072A, PHAR 072B, PHAR 072C rotations (320 hours) is required for the advanced certificate and Associate Degree. At the end of the rotation, the instructor will use the attendance records and competency forms as input from preceptors to assess the student learning outcomes and to help determine final grades. Students can refer to the course overview to understand the details of final grade assignments.
PHAR 072C Pharmacy Technology Externship Sterile Products
- Units
- 0.5-1.5
- Hours
- 27-100 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 056L or PHAR 057L or PHAR 060L and PHAR 048 and PHAR 051 and PHAR 052 and PHAR 055 and PHAR 056 and PHAR 060 and PHAR 057 Background checks, health screenings, current TB clearance, and drug test clearance (at the students expense).
On-site training in the home infusion or sterile products pharmacy practice setting. Students must complete the following lab course prior to placement: PHAR 060. Students must pass the trade-generic test prior to placement. Some sites require additional background, health screenings, and drugs tests. Completion of PHAR 072A, PHAR 072B, PHAR 072C rotations(320 hours) is required for the advanced certificate and Associate Degree. At the end of the rotation, the instructor will use the attendance records and competency forms as input from preceptors to assess the student learning outcomes and to help determine final grades. Students can refer to the course overview to understand the details of final grade assignments.
PHAR 072L-1 Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- Units
- 0.5-1
- Hours
- 27-54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 056 Returning students who took PHAR 056 can take PHAR 072L-1 alone
- Corequisite
- Concurrent enrollment in: PHAR 072A
Supervised use of the Pharmacy Technology skills lab (a supplemental learning assistance course) to assist the students in developing competency in the technical skills required to successfully complete the Outpatient Pharmacy Technology Externship rotation (PHAR 072). Additionally, this Skills Lab class allows students working in one setting of pharmacy to come back and practice skills in another setting. Skills lab class also allows students with significant time lapsed from program attendance to prepare for externship or job placements. Significant time lapsed is defined as 1 year by departmental policy in compliance with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' re-accreditation body. Lab hours verified by sign-in. One-half (0.5) unit is required for the Advanced Certificate and A.S. degree.
PHAR 072L-2 Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- Units
- 0.1-1
- Hours
- 6-54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 057
- Corequisite
- Concurrent enrollment in: PHAR 072B Returning students who took PHAR 057 can take PHAR 072L-2 alone.
Supervised use of the Pharmacy Technology skills lab (a supplemental learning assistance course) to assist the students in developing competency in the technical skills required to successfully complete the Inpatient Pharmacy Technology Externship rotation (PHAR 072). Additionally, this Skills Lab class allows students working in one setting of pharmacy to come back and practice skills in another setting. Skills Lab class also allows students with significant time lapsed from program attendance to prepare for externship or job placements. Significant time lapsed is defined as 1 year by departmental policy in compliance with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' re-accreditation body. Lab hours verified by sign-in. One-half (0.5) unit is required for the Advanced Certificate and A.S. degree.
PHAR 072L-3 Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
- Units
- 0.1-1
- Hours
- 6-54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHAR 060 Returning students who took PHAR 060 can take PHAR 072L-3 alone.
- Corequisite
- Concurrent enrollment in: PHAR 072C
Supervised use of the Pharmacy Technology skills lab (a supplemental learning assistance course) to assist the students in developing competency in the technical skills required to successfully complete the Pharmacy Externship Sterile Products rotation (PHAR 072). Additionally, this Skills Lab class allows students working in one setting of pharmacy to come back and practice skills in another setting. Skills lab class also allows students with significant time lapsed from program attendance to prepare for externship or job placements. Significant time lapsed is defined as 1 year by departmental policy in compliance with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' re-accreditation body. Lab hours verified by sign-in. One-half (0.5) unit is required for the Advanced Certificate and A.S. degree.