Pathway
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician youth apprentices prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. They may also measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders. (Students will need to complete the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) Registration and Instruction Requirements)
Length of Apprenticeship: One year
Job Competencies
Youth apprentices must complete a total of 14 competencies. Thirteen must be from the list below. If necessary, employers can substitute 1 competency with another occupationally appropriate skill. That skill should be added to the competency list for assessment.
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Required Competencies
- Accept prescription orders
- Perform calculations for medication orders
- Apply standard precautions and infection prevention controls
- Prepare supplies and instruments
- Assist to prepare patient medications
- Prepare medication for distribution
- Maintain inventory
- Perform customer service tasks
- Participate in quality assurance practices
- Maintain pharmacy records and other documents
- Use pharmacy references
- Implement error prevention and safety strategies to improve safety and accuracy of prescription preparation and delivery
- Place medication and supply orders
- Assist to prepare non sterile compounds
Related Instruction
Students must enroll in 1 High School Credit or 3 College Credits of related instruction each year they participate in the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Purpose of Related Instruction
The purpose of choosing a related instruction course is to ensure students are learning technical and academic skills that support the student's ability to perform their work tasks. This should be done concurrently with on-the-job training to make relevant connections between learning competencies and work.
Choosing Related Instruction
You will collaborate with your YA Coordinator and School Counselor to determine the most appropriate option for related instruction. A course within your high school directly related to the career pathway is ideal, especially if dual credits and/or hours related to a potential registered apprenticeship are offered.
If there is not a directly related course in your school district, related instruction in the same career cluster is also acceptable.
If there is not a course within that career cluster in your school district, you may request to register for a college course through the Start College Now program with a local technical college, Early College Credit from a local university, or from an alternative provider such as Destinations Career Academy.-
- Contemporary Healthcare Practices
- Digital Literacy for Healthcare
- Medical Terminology
- Basic Lab Skills
- Microbiology
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- Contemporary Healthcare Practices
- Digital Literacy for Healthcare
- Medical Terminology
- Basic Lab Skills
- Microbiology
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- Medical Terminology
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Course
- Biotechnology
Post Secondary
There are numerous opportunities to continue your education after completing the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Registered Apprenticeships
The Pharmacy Technician pathway can bridge into a registered apprenticeship as Pharmacy Technician.
College and University
- Completion of a Youth Apprenticeship fulfills college admission requirements across the UW System. Click here to learn more Universities of Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin Technical College System.