Tech Classes At Apollo Get Board’S Ok Decision Eases Concerns Of Those Five Months Into Pharmacy Program

A state board Wednesday approved the Apollo College pharmacy program in Spokane, raising students’ hopes that their $6,500 investment will result in a job.

The decision by the Washington Board of Pharmacy was a relief to 15 students who have spent five months to train as pharmacy technicians, a position that assists licensed pharmacists at drugstores, manufacturing plants and medical offices.

Without approval from the board, Apollo students would have had to start over at another school to qualify as state-certified pharmacy technicians.

“I’m very happy,” said Dawn Rose, a single mother who commutes 90 miles roundtrip from Tekoa, Wash., to attend Apollo. “With only a couple of months left in the program, we were praying this would work out.”

Located at 1101 N. Fancher Way, Apollo is a private school owned by Phoenix businesswoman Marge Carlson. The school opened in September, offering an 11-month pharmacy technician and other training programs for the health-care industry.

Pharmacy students felt betrayed when they learned last month that Apollo had never sought approval from the state board.

Donald Williams, the board’s executive director, made a temporary ruling that Apollo graduates would not receive state certification unless the school could persuade the board otherwise.

Williams said the seven-member board accepted Apollo’s argument that it was using the same curriculum in Spokane as it used at its Portland campus, which won approval years ago to train Washington residents.

The board also broadened its requirement that a licensed pharmacist work on site, thus permitting pharmacist Burt Everett of the Portland campus to serve as the long-distance supervisor over Spokane.

“They say they’re using the same program, so (the board) based its decision on that fact,” Williams said.

Carlson spoke to the board at a meeting in SeaTac, Wash. She was supported by two students; Dr. Charles Morrison, head of the Spokane Citizens League and husband of Apollo’s pharmacy instructor, Lynn Morrison; and a letter from Mayor John Talbott. The mayor asked the board to consider the needs of students and health-care providers.

“They’re a high-caliber group of students,” Carlson said. “I’m happy for them.”

But student Lyndie Nguyen, worries that Apollo’s mistake may haunt her and her classmates in the job market.

“Just because the board has approved the program doesn’t mean employers will,” she said. “After all this publicity are we going to get jobs?”

After news broke that Apollo’s pharmacy program was not state-approved, Carlson offered refunds to any students who wanted to drop out. She said Wednesday that no one has taken her up on the offer.

Students, however, said that’s not true. Janet Elliot said she and four others recently withdrew from the school. Apollo issued her a written promise last week to refund all tuition in two weeks, Elliot said.