The mission of Southeast Community College’s Pharmacy Technician program is consistent with the mission of the entire college. In addition, the program strives to graduate competent, ethical and confident entry-level health care practitioners, benefiting the community at-large by providing quality pharmacy services. Currently, the face-to-face track of the program is only offered on SCC’s Beatrice Campus. Students also have the option of taking the program online.

The Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and holds the title of being the only accredited pharmacy technician program in the state of Nebraska. The program is a one-year (four-quarter), intense program that prepares students to function within local and national pharmacies. By the time students graduate, most are registered with the state, nationally certified by the Pharmacy Technician Education Board, and ready to work in various pharmaceutical settings. The program has had a continuous reputation with its clinical sites around the Lincoln and Beatrice areas, and businesses have continued to hire from our pool of graduates.

The program strives to push outside of what is considered “sufficient” training and improve the pharmacy profession on a grand scale. The best way to do so is to begin locally. With the technician turnover so high and lack of national standards for pharmacy technicians, it is vital to have a program that will train individuals to function within local pharmacies. The best way to ensure patients’ safety is to effectively train and educate everyone involved in the pharmaceutical profession. Doing business in the Lincoln, Beatrice and Omaha areas is vital in establishing relationships with the program’s clinical sites as well as within the communities.

With the push for national standards from major organizations and the national talk about patient safety at an all-time high, the program is expected to grow, as is the need for qualified technicians. At this time, it can go nowhere but up.

The program has had a couple of important achievements. The first achievement was to get accredited. The process was not easy, but I believe that the program has been set apart and had a good foundation for continued success. Secondly, the program has built a reputation and rapport with its students, graduates and the communities that it serves. Thirdly, the program is honored to serve as a “hiring” stop for our clinical sites. That is what the program is here for, and from employers and graduates, the program has heard numerous positive comments.

One goal that the program continues to accomplish is to graduate more students who are able to turn the profession around 180 degrees, meaning that we progress from the idea of no education to supporting education, supporting training and supporting innovation within the profession. We graduate students who view education as a beneficial component to their success. The program strives to grow and to be a tool that employers use to hire their employees.

For more information, please visit: www.southeast.edu/PharmacyTech