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Pharmacy Technology Program Receives Accreditation
By Tonya Welch and Jean Douglas
Guilford Technical Community College’s (GTCC) Pharmacy Technology Program received accreditation from the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC). With this achievement, GTCC becomes the 11th academic institution in North Carolina with an accredited program for pharmacy technicians. The PTAC is a collaboration between ASHP and ACPE and serves both boards of directors as the accrediting review committee for pharmacy technician education and training programs. “Our program trains people to be well-rounded pharmacy technicians. Students are offered opportunities to receive hands-on experience with clinical rotations at pharmacy retail and hospital settings,” said Tonya Welch, director of the program. Representatives from the PTAC conducted a site visit in 2017 and granted full accreditation of GTCC’s program in February 2018 for a six-year term. The program curriculum includes a mix of online, classroom and lab coursework. Students receive hands-on skill development, computer and tablet experience, and gain real-world experience training with retail pharmacies, home health care and hospitals. “We have a simulation lab where students learn how to operate in both retail pharmacy and hospital environments,” said Welch. GTCC’s national accreditation comes in advance of a new requirement announced by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Effective January 1, 2020, pharmacy technicians will be required to complete a PTCB-recognized education or training program. For more information on GTCC’s pharmacy technology program, contact Tonya Welch at tpwelch@gtcc.edu or 336-334-4822 x55079.
Jean Douglas, PharmD, Associate Professor and Director of Standardized Client Program at High Point University
