Certificate of Achievement (Transcripted): Pharmacy Technology Advanced Option

Below is a sample academic plan that shows you how you can complete your Certificate in a timely manner. Your path may look different depending on your circumstances?for example, if you attend part-time, choose to take Intersession or Summer courses, or have earned prior credit (Credit for Prior Learning, Dual Enrollment, Transfer Credit). You are required to meet with a counselor to set up a comprehensive education plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances and goals.

The Pharmacy Technology Advanced Certificate Option includes the full-spectrum training required for employment in all pharmacy practice settings. Upon completion of the Advanced Certificate, graduates will meet the academic training requirements for licensing with the California State Board of Pharmacy. Graduates will also be well prepared for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam.


The major course requirements for the Advanced Certificate consists of the same 20.0 units of coursework listed in the Basic Certificate option, including the one unit outpatient externship rotation. In addition to completing two additional academic courses (PHAR 057 and PHAR 060), students choosing the Advanced Certificate option must perform 200 additional hours (3 additional units) of externship, involving rotations in inpatient and sterile products pharmacy services. Students will be placed in the hospital and/or home infusion setting to complete these rotations. Background checks, health screenings, and/or drug testing will be required prior to lab classes. Any required investigations are done at the student’s expense. Students are expected to understand and agree to abide by the Program Guidelines, which include technician standards and essential functions for pharmacy technicians.


The Advanced Certificate option is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Students must complete each required course with a grade of “C” or better (0.5 unit of PHAR 060L or other L-series lab classes and externship with a grade of “P”) to qualify for the Advanced Certificate.

All courses are required to be completed within a 3-year period to be eligible for Pharmacy Technology program enrollment and certificate/degree.

Develop a polished resume for Pharmacy Technician job interviews, highlighting your advanced technical skills.

Apply and complete Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam successfully.

Apply for the California Board of Pharmacy application for licensing as a Pharmacy Technician in a timely manner.

Program Map

GE General Education Course
M Major Course
E Elective Course
SI Summer/Intersession Course *
* Course is appropriate for Summer and Intersession, which are accelerated terms.

Getting Started

Comprehensive Education Plan: You are required to meet with a counselor for a comprehensive educational plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances and goals. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor in your first semester.

First Semester

7.5 units
PHAR 048
Introduction to Pharmacy Technology
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 052
    Body Systems II
    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.
    *Fall Course Only
      PHAR 055
      Pharmacy Calculations
      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.

        Second Semester

        8 units
        PHAR 051
        Body Systems I
        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.
        *Spring Course Only
          PHAR 056
          Pharmacy Operations
          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.
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 048
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 051
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 052
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 055
          • Prerequisite: Typing proficiency minimum of 30 wpm 95% accuracy

          Third Semester

          9.5 units
          PHAR 057
          Inpatient Pharmacy Services
          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.
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 048
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 051
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 052
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 055
          • Prerequisite: typing proficiency of 30 WPM with 95% accuracy
          PHAR 060
          Sterile Products
          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.
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 048
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 051
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 052
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 055
          • Prerequisite: 30 wpm typing
          PHAR 060L
          Pharmacy Technology Skills Lab
          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.
          • Corequisite (Concurrent): PHAR 060
          PHAR 072A
          Pharmacy Technology Externship Outpatient
          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.
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 056 -
          • Prerequisite: background checks, health screenings, current TB clearance, and drug test clearance (at the students expense).

          Fourth Semester

          3 units
          PHAR 072B
          Pharmacy Technology Externship Inpatient
          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.
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 056
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 057
          • Prerequisite: background checks, health screenings, current TB clearance, and drug test clearance (at the students expense).
          PHAR 072C
          Pharmacy Technology Externship Sterile Products
          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.
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 056L
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 057L
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 060L
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 048
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 051
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 052
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 055
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 056
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 060
          • Prerequisite: PHAR 057 - Background checks, health screenings, current TB clearance, and drug test clearance (at the students expense).