The Pharmacy Technician program offers the fundamentals for becoming a pharmacy technician as well as the training needed for pre-pharmacy students or those with health care backgrounds who want to enhance their skills. The curriculum covers various pharmacy practice settings, drugs, basic physiology, drug interactions and daily pharmacy operations. This program prepares students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam (PTCB). In Illinois, pharmacy technicians must be licensed and certified.
In the state of Illinois, to be a Certified Pharmacy Technician, applicants must complete an online application from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDPFR) website, provide proof of passing the PTCB exam, provide proof of Completion of a Certified Pharmacy Technician education certificate, and must be 18 years of age to be eligible for the Pharmacy Technician-Certified Designation registration. The Pharmacy Technician program conducted by Oakton College has an accreditation candidate status with ASHP/ACPE.
As part of the Oakton application process, students may be required to take placement tests. Placement into EGL 090/097/098 and MAT 095 is recommended. Placement tests are available at Oakton's Testing Center.
Students who complete the program may enter careers in retail establishments, hospitals, mail order facilities, managed care, pharmaceuticals, long-term/home health care, and nuclear pharmacy.
The Pharmacy Technician program is designed to teach fundamentals of being a pharmacy technician for those interested in becoming pharmacy technicians, pre-pharmacy students, or those interested in completing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Examination. Classes are taught by a Registered Pharmacist or Doctor of Pharmacy.
Oakton Pharmacy Technician Certification is an American Society of Health System Pharmacists/Accreditation council for Pharmacy Education (ASHP/ACPE) Candidate Status entry level pharmacy technician training and education program.
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Nargis Wardak
Coordinator of Pharmacy Technician
847.635.1684
nwardak@oakton.edu
Svetozara Zehireva
Instructor
szehireva@oakton.edu
Sara Samuel
Instructor
ssamuel@oakton.edu
Melissa Epps
Rph, Adjunct Faculty
Southwestern Illinois College
Derek Leiter
PharmD, Faculty at College of Lake county
College of Lake County
Ex-Officio Members:
May Alimboyoguen
Dean of Health Careers
Oakton College
Christine Hoang
Chair, Medical Laboratory Technology
choang@oakton.edu
Nargis Wardak
Adjunct Faculty, Pharmacy Technician
Oakton College
This is a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) eligible program.
Clinical placements require a health assessment, certain immunizations, yearly flu vaccine, substance abuse testing, criminal background check, specific skill certification (i.e., CPR) and health insurance. These requirements represent an additional cost to the student.
All Oakton College Health Career students in nursing, physical therapist assistant, medical laboratory technology, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, health information technology, cancer registry management, and medical assistant programs must have "clear" criminal background checks and drug screens in order to participate in any and all clinical components of any health career program courses. See the career programs pages for further details.
To comply with state statutes and clinical affiliation agreements, and to provide a safe environment for students, employees, and patients cared for by students, those accepted into Oakton's health career programs will be required to complete a criminal background check and drug screening through a company contracted by the College. Health Career students will be charged a fee for this service.
Timelines for completing criminal background checks and drug screens may vary among the various programs. Deadline dates for each program will be provided by the individual department chairs at the time of a student's acceptance into a health career program.
Students without a clear criminal background check and/or clear drug screen will not be allowed to enroll in clinical practicum courses or attend clinical programs. This would further necessitate that the student withdraw from the health career program at that time.
Students who refuse a criminal background check and/or drug screen will not be considered "clear" and will not be authorized to participate in the clinical component of the health career program, necessitating withdrawal from the program at that time.
Individual results of student background checks and drug screens are considered confidential.
Determination of whether or not a student can participate in the clinical component of a particular health career program will be communicated to the respective department chairs by the Background Check/Drug Screen vendor. Students may view their personal results on the vendor's website.
With the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, our clinical site partners are updating their requirements for COVID-19 vaccination. Oakton must also follow the requirements of our clinical sites with regard to immunization requirements. It is the decision of the clinical sites, not Oakton, if immunizations are required for our students. Effective for the Spring 2022 semester, the clinical facility partners will not permit students to participate in clinical experiences at any of their facilities without the COVID-19 vaccination.
Students are not employees and have neither employee benefits nor access through employee health services at the facility, therefore, accommodations for declination of vaccination will not be honored. As guests of each facility, Oakton programs must abide by the rules of the facility.
Students must provide proof of vaccination. Failure to provide documentation will result in student dismissal from clinical courses.
As a pharmacy technician student you are expected to perform each of the following essential skills:
Disclosure Requirements for Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification
Each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements. Oakton has researched Boards of Pharmacy and/or contacted state licensing authorities to confirm that the program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure. Other licensure requirements may include professional certification exams, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting, etc.
Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. As of July 1, 2020, we have determined that individuals that successfully complete Pharmacy Technician Program curriculum:
Meets the education requirements leading to licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Illinois, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont
Does NOT meet the education requirements For licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Nevada, North Dakota,Ohio, Washington
We have not made a determination if the program curriculum meets the requirements for licensure/certification in these states and US Territories: Alabama, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Guam, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Northern Mariana Islands, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
If you intend to practice in any state other than Illinois, you should contact the appropriate licensing agency to independently verify whether Oakton’s program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state before beginning Oakton’s program. Be aware that state licensure requirements may change from time to time and that states may have conditions for licensure in addition to educational requirements.
The Pharmacy Technician program conducted by Oakton College has an accreditation candidate status with ASHP/ACPE.
ASHP
4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20814
Website
Timeframe for student outcomes: Date is based on calendar year, Jan. 1-Dec. 31.
Definition: PTCB exam pass rate - the percentage of students who tested and passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam
Year | PTCB Oakton Student Pass Rate | PTCB National Pass Rate |
---|---|---|
2025 | 100% | 68% |