Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Deadlines Approaching
Published on May 11, 2017
DENTAL ASSISTING
May 20 is the revised deadline for applying to ACTC’s new Dental Assisting program that begins next fall.
There is a shortage of dental assistants in this area, and the 12-month diploma program will prepare students to assist dentists with operative and surgical procedures, manipulation of dental materials, taking radiographs, providing oral health instructions and performing office management tasks.
Graduates awarded a Diploma in Dental Assisting will also be certified in radiation health and safety, coronal polishing and lab competency. “There are many equipment and technological advancements the dental profession today, and our students will become proficient in using those technologies,” said Program Coordinator Barbara Hughes-Nelson.
A Preadmission Conference, required for all applicants, will be held May 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Learning Resource Center Teleconference Room at the College Drive Campus.
Dental Assisting is a selective admissions program, and applicants need to submit both ACTC and dental assisting program applications. The ACTC application on the web at ashland.kctcs.edu under Admissions, and the Dental Assisting Application is at ashland.kctcs.edu under Programs of Study.
For more information, contact Hughes-Nelson at 606-326-2095, email: bnelson0088@kctcs.edu or Roxanne Neal, Division Assistant/Health Science at 606-326-2086, email: roxanne.neal@kctcs.edu.
PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY
June 1 is the deadline to apply for admission to the Pharmacy Technology Program at Ashland Community and Technical College.
Pharmacy Technology offers a quick path into health care employment and can sometimes be the first step in becoming a pharmacist. Pharmacy Technicians are employed in community and hospital pharmacies. According to the KY Occupational Outlook, jobs for Pharmacy Technicians in Kentucky are expected to grow 22 percent from 2012 to 2022, and the average annual wage in 2015 was $27,726.
Under the direction of a pharmacist, a Pharmacy Technologist transcribes physician’s medication orders, fills prescriptions and pharmacy orders, prepares admixtures of intravenous solutions, replenishes drugs, maintains patient profiles and prepares bulk formulations.
At ACTC, Pharmacy Technology is a one-year diploma program, and Community Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician Assistant and Retail Pharmacy Technician certificates are also available. The diploma and certificate credits may be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science Degree in General Occupational/ Technical Studies.
The program includes lecture and laboratory classes in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical terminology, microbiology, dosage calculations, pharmacy mathematics, pharmacy practice, pharmacology, drug classifications and IV admixtures.
Students also learn how to communicate the correct medical abbreviations and medical terminologies with patients, customers and the pharmacists they are assisting.
An externship with area pharmacies give students experience on the job. “During their clinical hours as ‘externs’ in area pharmacies, students learn skills that would be needed as employees, and this can give them an edge when applying for a job,” said Nikki Bryant, ACTC associate professor and coordinator of the Pharmacy Technology Program.
Pharmacy Technology is a selective admissions program, and the application deadline is May 1. New students will need to submit both ACTC and Pharmacy Technology applications, which are available on line at: ashland.kctcs.edu. Applicants must have completed MT065 with a “C” or better grade prior to being enrolled in the program.
For more information on Pharmacy Technology, contact Bryant at 606-326-2261 or email nikki.bryant@kctcs.edu.
