PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY
Selective Admission Process
Application Dates – March 3, 2008 through July 3, 2008 or until filled
Applications for admission into the Pharmacy program are processed on a first come first serve basis.
The Pharmacy Technology curriculum, a full-time day curriculum, prepares individuals to assist the pharmacist in duties that a technician can legally perform and to function within the boundaries developed by the pharmacist and the employment agency.
Graduates will maintain inventories, patient records, and clerical requirements of third party and regulatory agencies. In addition, graduates will perform all aspects involved with the filling of prescriptions and institutional orders including: interpreting physician's orders, compounding non-sterile and sterile formulations, packaging, labeling and billing.
Graduates may be employed in hospitals, nursing homes, private and corporate community pharmacies, research laboratories, wholesale drug companies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Starting wages earned by graduates range from $7.00 to $10.00 per hour. Graduates will qualify and are encouraged to take the National Certification Examination developed by the Pharmacy Technology Certification Board.
APPLICATION PROCESS
It is the Pharmacy applicants' responsibility to ensure that all requirements are met by the established deadline. Pharmacy deadlines, guidelines, and policies apply equally to all students; thus there can be no exceptions.
ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPEAR IN PERSON AT CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN OVER THE TELEPHONE OR BY MAIL/WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE.
The following steps must be completed by 5:00 pm on July 3, 2008.
Students must:
- Have and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher in all post-secondary courses taken in the last 3 years at Cape Fear Community College.
- Complete the CFCC General Admission Application.
- Complete appropriate Placements Test, if required by the Admission Office. Meet minimum cut-off scores on Placement Test.
- Request official high school transcript or GED scores be mailed to the Admission and Records Office. Official transcripts should be mailed from the institution(s) attended or be hand delivered in an envelope sealed by a representative of the schools attended.
- Request official transcripts from all colleges or schools attended since high school be mailed to the Admission and Records Office. This will be reviewed for possible transfer credit.
MINIMUM ADMISSION REQIREMENTS
1. PLACEMENT TESTING
All students who wish to apply for the Pharmacy Technology program must have taken the Placement Test and met minimum cut-off scores within the previous five years.
| ASSET | Compass | Accuplacer (CPT) | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 Writing | 70 Writing | 86 Sentence | 470 Verbal or | 19 English |
| 41 Reading | 81 Reading | 80 Reading | Reading & Writing | 19 Reading |
| 41 Numerical | 47 Pre-Algebra | 55 Arithmetic | 450 Math | 18 Math |
-OR-
If an applicant scores less than the minimum cut-off scores on the Placement Test, he/she will be required to complete the essential sequence of developmental courses. If the student completes all of the required developmental courses with a grade of “C” or better prior to the application deadline date and meets the other minimum requirements, he/she may be considered for admission to the program.
Prior completion of English 111 or equivalent and Math 115 or higher with a grade of “C” or better may eliminate taking the Placement Test.
The Placement Test or any combination of Placement Tests may be taken twice in twelve consecutive months. Applicants who violate the testing policy will not be disqualified. However, when an applicant has tested more than twice in twelve consecutive months, only the first two attempts will be considered in the application process. Placement tests which violate the testing policy will be disregarded.
Students who have taken a Placement Test at another community college in the past five (5) years are responsible for ensuring that the scores are transferred to Cape Fear Community College by application deadline.
In addition, if a student has special needs and must arrange for appropriate testing accommodations, he/she should contact the Coordinator of Disabilities Services (A-215A) at 910-362-7012.
NOTE: MAT 070 (Beginning Algebra) is highly recommended but not required to be accepted to the program. In addition, Keyboarding Skills are essential to Pharmacy Technology students. Therefore, we also recommend that students complete OST 131 (Keyboarding) prior to admission into the program.
2. TIME FRAME
Applications for Admission into the Pharmacy Technology program are processed on a first come first serve basis.
Applications for the Pharmacy Technology program will be available in the Counseling Office (A-220) beginning March 3, 2008 through July 3, 2008 or until program is filled.
3. PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY SELECTION PROCESS
Up to fifteen (15) new students may be admitted to the Pharmacy Technology program each Fall semester. Applications for admission are processed on a first come-first served basis.
Pharmacy applicants who are selected will be conditionally accepted in the program pending the submission and review of a favorable medical history form provided by Cape Fear Community College.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE
Fifteen (15) new students may be admitted to the Pharmacy program in the Fall semester. Students whose status is “alternate” are admitted to the program only if someone who was originally accepted declines the offer of admission, or if someone who was originally accepted becomes disqualified (refer to disqualifying factors). If the applicants did not meet minimum requirements, were not accepted, or declined admission, he/she must re-apply the following year.
The 15 selected students will be notified when to complete the following information:
1. Medical Reports
All completed health/medical reports must be received by specified date noted in acceptance letter. This physical history must include a TB skin test (chest x-ray if positive reaction), immunization record, urinalysis, rubella titer or evidence of rubella vaccination.
2. Drug Screen
Nine (9) panel urine drug screen is mandatory. Methadone will be included in the urine drug screen. Testing positive on the drug screening, or evidence of tampering with a specimen, will disqualify a student from participation from the clinical assignment. A drug screening is required but you must wait until thirty (30) days prior to beginning clinical rotations. If you have the drug screening completed too early, it will need to be repeated which will be an additional medical expense.
3. Background Check
At their discretion, clinical sites may require a criminal background check prior to allowing students into the clinical setting (If required, any associated fees will be the responsibility of the student). Certain criminal activity, as evident by a criminal background check may also disqualify a student from clinical participation. Please be aware that failure to participate in a clinical assignment based on either the drug screening or criminal background check will result in dismissal from the Pharmacy Technology Program. Cape Fear Community College will not accept the background checks. It is your responsibility to hold this report for the clinical site if needed. For further information, students should see the "Drug and Alcohol Policy" in the CFCC Student Handbook (pgs. 45-47). Information will be disseminated in orientation/registration with the Lead Instructor.
PROGRESSION POLICY
Students admitted to the Pharmacy Technology program must achieve a “C” in each course in the curriculum in order to progress semester by semester.
Grading Policy
| A | Excellent | 92-100 |
| B | Good | 84-91 |
| C | Average | 76-83 |
| D | Poor | 68-75 |
The Pharmacy Technology Department feels that attitudes and actions demonstrate a student’s ethics; therefore, it is the department policy that a student will receive a grade of “F” in a course for cheating in a lecture class, falsifying information on class or clinical settings documentation, and/or unprofessional behavior. An “F” will prohibit a student from continuing in the Pharmacy Technology Program.
CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE
Certification is the process by which a non-governmental association or agency grants recognition to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications specified by that association or agency. The goal of Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) program is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer greater patient care and service. PTCB is responsible for the development and implementation of policies related to national certification for pharmacy technicians.
The applicant must have received a high school diploma, a GED, or the foreign equivalent by the application deadline and have never been convicted of a felony to sit for the PTCB Examination. The cost of the PTCB Exam is $129.00.
The cost of this voluntary exam is not included in the tuition and fees for the program.
(Above information adapted from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s website: http://www.ptcb.org .)
COUNSELING
If you have questions or concerns regarding the selective admissions process, please contact a counselor in room A-220 or at the North Campus in room NA-100.
PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM
| FALL SEMESTER | CREDITS | |
|---|---|---|
| PHM 110 | Introduction to Pharmacy | 3 |
| PHM 111 | Pharmacy Practice I | 4 |
| PHM 115 | Pharmacy Calculations | 3 |
| PHM 115A | Pharmacy Calculations Lab | 1 |
| *BIO 163 | Basic Anatomy & Physiology | 5 |
| CIS 111 | Basic PC Literacy | 2 |
| __ | ||
| 18 Total | ||
| * BIO 106 Intro to Anatomy/Physiology is acceptable for Fall 2008 only | ||
| SPRING SEMESTER | CREDITS | |
| PHM 118 | Sterile Products | 4 |
| PHM 120 | Pharmacology I | 3 |
| PHM 136 | Pharmacy Clinical | 6 |
| PSY 118 | Interpersonal Psychology | 3 |
| __ | ||
| 16 Total | ||
| SUMMER SEMESTER | CREDITS | |
| PHM 125 | Pharmacology II | 3 |
| PHM 140 | Trends in Pharmacy | 2 |
| PHM 133 | Pharmacy Clinical | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Applied Communications II | 3 |
| __ | ||
| 11 Total | ||
Tuition and Fees table
LIABILITY: $15.00 PER SCHOOL YEAR
| FULL TIME: | 12 CREDIT HOURS |
| ¾ TIME: | 9 CREDIT HOURS |
| ½ TIME: | 6 CREDIT HOURS |
Tuition is established by the North Carolina State Legislature and is subject to change without prior notification.
Cape Fear Community College
Estimated Expenses
Pharmacy Technology Program
| First Semester | |
|---|---|
| Tuition/Fees (In-State) | $ 707.00 |
| Tuition/Fees (Out-of-State) | 3767.80 |
| Dispensing Jacket/Lab Coat | 30.00 |
| Books | 220.00 |
| In-State Total | $ 957.00 |
| Out-of-State Total | $4017.80 |
| Second Semester | |
| Tuition/Fees (In-State) | $ 707.00 |
| Tuition/Fees (Out-of-State) | 3767.80 |
| Insurance | 15.00 |
| Books | 100.00 |
| Drug Screen | 25.00 |
| Background Check/Drug Screen | $70.00 |
| In-State Total | $ 892.00 |
| Out-of-State Total | $ 3952.80 |
| Third Semester | |
| Tuition/Fees (In-State) | $ 489.00 |
| Tuition/Fees (Out-of-State) | 2593.30 |
| Books | 100.00 |
| In-State Total | $ 589.00 |
| Out-of-State Total | $ 2693.30 |
| Total Program (In-State) | $ 2438.00 |
| Total Program (Out-of-State) | $10663.90 |
Revised 10/2007