Board approves OSU-OKC's new pharmacy tech program

Friday, December 7, 2007

The Oklahoma State University A&M Board of Regents approved OSU-Oklahoma City's initiative to initiate a new certified pharmacy technician program.

The pharmacy tech certificate program prepares students to work as Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs). Upon graduation, students can take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination through the Pharmacy Certification Board.

The new program proposal is part of OSU-OKC’s increasing emphasis on health care study programs, which are responding to the chronic shortage of qualified workers in the health care industry in the Oklahoma City Metro.  

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates pharmacy technician jobs will grow by 27% in the next seven years.

“This field will become an increasingly important area of health care as our state’s population ages,” said Dr. Larry Edwards, OSU-OKC’s vice president of academic affairs. “Increased use of medications by this aging population will mean expanded job opportunities for skilled, dedicated pharmacy technicians. We’re prepared to facilitate that training.”

Certified technicians work in retail pharmacies, nursing homes and hospitals. Technicians may also establish and maintain patient profiles and other records, prepare insurance claim forms, and stock and inventory prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Currently, there are no other credit programs in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area’s public colleges or universities that educate pharmacy technicians. The new program will fall under OSU-OKC’s Science and Engineering Division, directed by Dr. Jerry Nielson. The university plans to add one full-time faculty member to develop and teach in this program and serve as its director.

The A&M Board met on the OSU-OKC campus on Friday. The approval of the pharmacy tech program was one of several items on the agenda.

OSU-OKC is a North Central Association accredited, state-assisted public college serving the technical education and training needs of Oklahoma.