Pharmacy Technician Program To Be Introduced At PWC's Freedom High School

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Students at Freedom High School in Woodbridge will have the chance to explore a new career path starting in the fall.

In fall 2025, the high school will launch a four-year pharmacy technician program. Labeled as a career and technical education program, it will help students learn the basics of pharmacy practice, pharmacy law, regulations and ethics, prescription interpretation, and pharmacy calculations. Students will get clinical experiences in pharmaceutical locations to learn advanced pharmacy practice, sterile compounding, non-sterile compounding, and inventory management.

In the four-year program, students will take Introduction to Health and Medical Sciences, Medical Terminology, Pharmacy Technician 1, and Pharmacy Technician 2. The coursework meets the requirements of the Virginia Board of Pharmacy and prepare the students to seek credentials and certification examinations.

Edmar Fonseca, a medical coding and billing teacher at Freedom High School, is leading the pharmacy technician program and has seen significant student interest. Fonesca hopes the program will create partnerships with local pharmacies to provide students with hands-on experience.

"We are collaborating with the CTE department to establish partnerships with local pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens," said Fonseca in a statement via Prince William County Public Schools. "Our goal is to create a system where students can gain valuable experience by working and shadowing professionals in these environments. This hands-on approach will allow them to interact with people and immerse themselves in the field, which is one of our primary objectives."

Rising ninth, 10th and 11th graders are able to apply for the program through Feb. 1.