Career College to roll out training of pharmacy techs

Career College of Northern Nevada hopes to ease a longstanding shortage of qualified help in pharmacies throughout the state with the introduction of a pharmaceutical technician program later this month.

CCNN President Nate Clark says the program was created after the college invited a host of pharmacists to attend an advisory committee to review upcoming curriculum.

"They were all saying that there is a huge need for well-trained pharmaceutical technicians, there just weren't any schools providing what they consider qualified technical help," he says. "We think this is going to be a huge success for the community, just filling the needs of an aging population and the way health care is geared to the pharmaceutical side."

Students will undergo 15 months of training 10-1/2 months of lecture, labs, textbooks and in-class discussion, followed by 375 hours unpaid internship in a northern Nevada pharmacy. Tuition cost is $13,357, and the first class is limited to 15 students.

Clark says he enrolled his first future technician last Monday.

CCNN received accreditation in December through the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Adrienne Santiago, a pharmaceutical technician with more than 20 years experience, will lead the coursework. CCNN's placement office will help students find internships and jobs after graduation.

Clark says most pharmacies are in love with the idea. "They love to have free labor, and they get a chance to try someone out for 375 hours before they hire them."