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​T��� ������ý School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences held an open house to give members of the community a look inside its Pharmacy Technician Training program.

Local school district representatives, the general public and members of the local media stopped by the school Thursday, April 10, to learn more about the new free program, available to anyone with a high school degree.

Dean and SUNY Distinguished Professor Kanneboyina Nagaraju spoke on the impact he hopes this new program provides for the local healthcare system and the overall community.

“There is an urgent need for pharmacy technicians in Southern Tier healthcare facilities,” Nagaraju said. “The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is excited to offer this program for free to high school students in our area to fill this need. It will help encourage them to pursue a career in healthcare fields, especially pharmacy.”

Applications are now being accepted through May 1, with the program beginning July 7.

Some of the requirements to enroll in this program:

• Be at least 18 years old (by July 1).
• Have a high school diploma (by July 1) or high school equivalency diploma or higher.
• Pass a criminal background check and urine drug screening.

The Pharmacy Technician Training program is a 20-week, 420-hour ������ý Micro-credential (noncredit) that will prepare graduates to confidently start their career in an expanding healthcare field.

Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in assisting pharmacists in various tasks related to medication dispensing and patient care.

“As we prepare to welcome our second cohort, this free training program continues to open doors to rewarding careers in pharmacy,” said Instructor Katie Sasina. “The initiative supports both local community and hospital pharmacies while inspiring new interest in the profession. It’s been rewarding to see our learners grow into confident pharmacy technicians who are eager to make a difference.”

In addition to dispensing new prescriptions and refilling orders, packing and labeling prescriptions, preparing sterile and nonsterile compounded medications, tracking medication inventory and processing insurance claims, the role of the pharmacy technician under the supervision of a pharmacist has been expanded in recent years to include medication reconciliation, screening for medication allergies and immunization administration.

“Pharmacy technicians are an important part of the healthcare team, and it was great to see both students and teachers excited and asking questions about the field,” Sasina said. “Their interest gives us a lot of hope for the future of healthcare in our community, and we’re looking forward to helping them take that next step toward a rewarding career.”

The program aims to help graduating high school seniors find a path into the healthcare workforce by allowing them to become pharmacy technicians. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are in high demand around the country and locally.

“We are excited to identify persons locally who are interested in a high-demand healthcare career and train them to meet our local workforce needs,” said Kenneth McCall, program director, chair and clinical professor of pharmacy practice.

For 2025, programmatic costs are funded through a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and donations, meaning the program is free for everyone who is admitted. This includes supplies and online access to ASHP’s PharmTech® Ready curriculum (online learning lectures, videos, virtual laboratory simulations).

These estimated expenses represent a good-faith effort to disclose the true costs of attendance.

If you, or someone you know is interested in this program, follow this link for more information.