After offering a Pharmacy Assistant certificate for several years, West Georgia Technical College is expanding the program to offer an associate degree and diploma in Pharmacy Technology beginning in Spring Semester 2019.

All three credentials are designed to prepare graduates to work in hospitals, retail pharmacies, clinics and other healthcare settings that prepare and dispense medication.

“The Pharmacy Technology degree and diploma programs provide students with a pathway to further their education and opportunities to advance their career in pharmacy,” Pharmacy Technology Program Director Michelle Hill said. “Our certificate graduates have asked us to provide additional coursework and higher-level credentials to help them advance in their careers.”

West Georgia Tech offers the Pharmacy Technology program on its Douglas Campus. To facilitate the expansion, WGTC is investing about $225,000 to relocate the Pharmacy Technology program to a newly renovated suite with state of the art equipment and design, including three dedicated rooms for laboratory and active learning experiences. The funding was provided through the Technical College System of Georgia’s World Class Lab funds.

The curriculum for the diploma and degree prepares students for entry level employment in retail or hospital-based pharmacy department by providing hybrid and on-campus courses in advanced pharmacy technology principles and advanced practicum opportunities. Students progress through the program as a cohort, bridging networking, community, and collaboration opportunities.

Currently many of the certificate students are dual enrolled Douglas County high school students. The expansion will give them opportunity to further their Pharmacy Technology education in high school and also will provide a local opportunity to continue college coursework after high school graduation, Hill said.

“It gives us great pride to be able to expand our pharmacy program offerings, Dr. Naquilla Thomas, Dean of Health Sciences, said. “By doing so, we continue to cultivate our commitment to impact the lives of our students.”