“This is my third class of Pharmacy Technician students at Job Corps, and I’m proud of what they are achieving,” advised San Diego Job Corps’ Pharmacy Technician instructor Apollos Agbuya. 

On September 28, 2012, thirteen of his students took part in the White Coat and Pinning Ceremony at the San Diego Center.  Family, friends, and Job Corps staff members honored the students as they took the Oath of the Pharmacy Technician and recited the Profession and Discipline of Pharmacy pledge.  The ceremony marked the completion of the students’ classroom certification and the beginning of their externship.  After completing their160 hours of clinical work, they will become California State Pharmacy Technicians.  The class is scheduled to graduate from Job Corps in January 2013.

Agbuya has been a Clinical Pharmacy Technician since 2004, and has taught this class at the college level.  “It is a very demanding course,” Agbuya stated.  “Pharmacy Technicians perform many duties, including preparing and distributing medications to patients.  During their Job Corps training students learn Medical Terminology, Pharmacy Math, Pharmaceutical Law, and Inventory and Customer Service.   The students have to be disciplined, focused, and highly motivated to complete the course.”

During the past few years the San Diego Job Corps Center has expanded the opportunities in its Health Care Career Pathway to afford students the best career opportunities in the fast growing Health Care field.  The number of students enrolled in the Certified Nursing Assistant program has increased, and the Pharmacy Technician Career Technical Training program was added in 2011.

“So far, 43 students have graduated from our Pharmacy Technician program and more than half are now working as pharmacy technicians or pursuing degrees in the medical profession,” Agbuya stated.  “Several are working for major companies like CVS, Wal-Mart, Pharmacy, Target, and Walgreen pharmacies, while others are employed community hospitals.  There are so many opportunities for these young people”, Agbuya continued, “if they are willing to commit themselves to their careers.”