Pharmacy Technician Bridging Courses
DESCRIPTION
Pharmacy Technicians who are currently in the profession - either graduates of programs prior to or without CCAPP accreditation or who have "learned on the job" - who wish to pursue OCP registration, must complete the four approved Pharmacy Technician bridging courses. These courses will prepare you to meet the requirements for registration with OCP.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
For acceptance into the Bridging courses, you must present evidence of having successfully written the OCP certification exam or the PEBC evaluating exam (available 2009) prior to registration. Registration will be restricted for each course pending proof of certification which must be faxed to Amy Boyer, Program Manager at 905.528.7706. Please include contact information with fax and desired courses. You will be notified of acceptance and given directions for registration.
COURSES OFFERED
These courses may be taken in any order or as advertised. You may use the Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) process to challenge any of the courses except for the Professional Practice courses, which is mandatory. The Structured Practical Training component managed by OCP follows completion of the bridging courses. Courses are offered at the Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences located on McMaster University Campus.
Courses that will be offered in upcoming terms are:
| Course Number | Course Name | Course Hours | Tentative Schedule* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring | |||
| HSCI10136 | Professional Pactice for Pharmacy Technician Bridging (Distance Education) |
45 | X | X | X |
| HSCI10137 | Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technician Bridging (Distance Education) |
33 | X | X | X |
| HSCI10140 | Management of Drug Distribution Systems for Pharmacy Technician Bridging(Distance Education) | 39 | X | X | X |
| HSCI10139 | Product Preparation for Pharmacy Technician Bridging (Distance Education) |
33 | X | X | |
| * Subject to change - Browse current catalogue for course offerings | |||||
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT & RECOGNITION
Many adult students bring work or other life experiences to their studies that are comparable to what is taught in the classroom or through on-line learning. The PLA process allows eligible students to obtain academic credit for prior learning that matches the outcomes of college courses. Students are eligible to use the PLAR process for the following courses:- HSCI10137 Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technician Bridging
- HSCI10140 Management of Drug Distribution Systems for Pharmacy Technician Bridging
- HSCI10139 Product Preparation for Pharmacy Technician Bridging
The Professional Practice for Pharmacy Technician Bridging course is not eligible for the PLAR process. It is a mandatory course.
Students require approval before registering for any of these PLAR courses. Evidence of OCP certification or the PEBC evaluating exam letter of completion may be faxed to Amy Boyer (Program Manager) at 905-528-7706. Please include contact information. Once approval has been granted, you may register with the PLAR office by calling 905-575-2395.
The PLAR office will provide a course outline to you upon registration. Examination dates and times will be provided by the PLAR office. The PLAR fee is to be paid upon registration.
Professional Pactice for Pharmacy Technician Bridging - HSCI10136
Prepare for entry to practice in five main areas of focus: legal requirements, scope of practice, ethical principles, professionalism and communication skills. Through a variety of learning tools such as interactive case studies, assignments, quizzes and group work, you will enhance your ability to practice competently within the professional practice framework.
Required Textbook: Focus on Safe Medication Practices, ISBN 978-0-7817-7078-1 available at Titles Bookstore, Room 1G, McMaster University Medical Centre.
Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technician Bridging - HSCI10137
This course provides a practical, applied approach to pharmacology. Through a variety of learning tools such as assignments, quizzes, case studies and group work, the student will enhance his/her ability to practice competently and contribute to a safe patient care setting. Participants will gain basic knowledge related to the pharmacological uses of drugs within a variety of commonly encountered medical conditions.
Required Textbook: Phamacology for Pharmacy Technicians, ISBN 978-0-323-04720-3.
Management of Drug Distribution Systems for Pharmacy Technician Bridging - HSCI10140
Examine various drug distribution systems, perform accurate product release and manage operations in a pharmacy practice setting. Explore distributive functions in the institutional settings ensuring accuracy, integrity, and medical safety. Develop safe product release practices within the parameters of the pharmacy technician role. Identify common drug plans and their formularies, and investigate daily challenges in the adjudication process. Inventory management elements will be detailed including common business practices. Lecture and lab portions are included in the curriculum.
Product Preparation for Pharmacy Technician Bridging - HSCI10139
This practical lab combines theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to accurately and safely prepare both sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical products. The emphasis in the sterile component will be on the development of aseptic technique under CSHP (Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists) guidelines including an overview of chemotherapy and TPN. In the non-sterile component, review methadone guidelines and prepare internal and external preparations using common compounding formulas, under OCP, GMP and WHMIS guidelines. The identification of reference materials, and documentation practices, performance of accurate calculations, measurements and preparation techniques will assist in the developing compounding skills and aseptic technique.
