COURSE CURRICULUM

The Pharmacy Technician diploma program at Medicine Hat College offers a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum over two years, preparing students for roles in both community and institutional pharmacy settings. In the first year, students begin with foundational courses such as ENGL 155 (Scientific and Technical Writing), IDST 100 (Introductory Communication for Helping Professionals), and BIOL 152 (Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare Professionals), which support communication and scientific understanding essential for pharmacy practice. They also gain critical skills in pharmaceutical calculations (PHRM 101) and an introduction to pharmacy practice (PHRM 100), while beginning hands-on experience with community prescription processing labs (PHRM 111). In the second term, students build on this knowledge through courses like PHRM 102 (Pharmacy Law and Ethics), Pharmacotherapy I and II (PHRM 115 and 125), and PHRM 113 (Community Pharmacy Practice), alongside a community pharmacy lab (PHRM 123) that reinforces technical application. In the second year, the curriculum shifts toward institutional practice with courses including PHRM 201 (Institutional Prescription Processing) and PHRM 202 (Institutional Pharmacy Practice), while PHRM 133 (Compounding Lab) and PHRM 235 (Pharmacotherapy III) deepen clinical and technical competencies. Students also focus on professional development through PHRM 205 and practical application in labs for institutional pharmacy (PHRM 233) and sterile product preparation (PHRM 253). The final semester emphasizes safety, advanced integration of skills, and patient-centered care with courses like Medication Safety (PHRM 206), Integrated Skills (PHRM 207), and Non-Prescription and Complementary Therapies (PHRM 208). The program concludes with two intensive practicum placements—PHRM 210 (Community Practicum) and PHRM 220 (Institutional Practicum)—where students apply their learning in real-world settings under professional supervision. Altogether, this program equips graduates with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and clinical experience necessary to become regulated and competent pharmacy technicians.