After careful consideration for the safety of our training class participants, instructors, and staff, the American College of Apothecaries resumed in-person training classes on June 4. ACA followed local public health guidelines to develop the following protocols.
Our top priority is providing the best training opportunities for pharmacy professionals in the safest environment for employees, instructors, participants, and the community.
Our safety protocols include:
- Daily health screening upon entrance to facility for all class participants and staff
- Limiting visitors to facility and lowering class size
- Allowing staff to telework and informing staff not to come to work if sick
- Enforcing six-foot distancing for all individuals throughout facility
- Dedicated workspaces for class participants during compounding training courses, including classroom and lab areas
- Providing masks to every individual
- Providing hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to all visitors, class participants and staff at facility entrance, in bathrooms, breakroom, training room, and labs
- Offices, bathrooms, breakroom, and lab are cleaned and disinfected daily
- Additional measures will be taken throughout the facility to prevent unnecessary contact between individuals
REGISTER EARLY & SAVE $70!
Special promotional pricing will be automatically applied to all registrations completed six weeks before the beginning of class. No code necessary; does not apply to student pharmacist rate or Letco EVP participants. The best value in compounding training just got a little better.
Your Site. Your Staff. Your Schedule
The ACA can present any of the current compounding training courses or business management training on location, or design a custom class (with or without CE) to meet a pharmacy’s needs.
This course is designed for pharmacists, technicians, and students who are new to compounding or who have had training in the past but want a refresher. Physicians and other health care professionals are also welcome to attend.
CONTENT
This course provides didactic and hands-on experience with fundamental aspects of nonsterile compounding. Participants will learn through lecture, discussion, practice activities, and hands-on training in a fully equipped nonsterile compounding lab.
The Fundamental Law module explains key aspects of state and federal regulations pertaining to compounding and what components are acceptable to use in compounded nonsterile preparations.
Our low instructor/participant ratio allows for individual attention and interaction. The program is structured to demonstrate skills that can be immediately implemented by participants. Learn about the ACA Compounding Training Instructors at acainfo.org/faculty.
Physicians and other health care professionals are welcome to attend.
*Funding for this course is provided in part by an unrestricted educational grant from the ACA Research and Education Foundation.
Also available from ACA: Basic Compounding & Calculations Home Study
DAY ONE
Classroom Lecture: Introduction to Compounding
- Compounding vs. Manufacturing
- Compounding Quality Act
- USP chapters
- Counseling a Patient about a Compound
Lecture: Lab Safety, Personal Protective Equipment, and Calibrating Molds
Lab: Calibrating Molds
Classroom Lecture: Quality Compounding
- Compounding with Commercial Ingredients
- Compounding from Bulk Ingredients
- Aliquots, Dilutions, Triturations, and Concentrates
- Geometric dilution
- Stability Considerations
- Antioxidants, Chelating agents, Preservatives
- Quality Considerations
- Beyond Use Dating
Lecture: Suspensions, Solutions, and other liquid compounds
Lab: Suspensions & Solutions
DAY TWO
Classroom Lecture: Regulatory Update & Standard Operating Procedures
Lecture: Capsules
Lab: Capsules
- Hand pack method
- Capsule machine method
Classroom Lecture: Semi-Solid Dosage Forms
Lab Semi-Solid Dosage Forms
- Suppositories
- Troches
- Lip balm
- Lollipops
DAY THREE
Classroom Lecture: Exploring Niche Markets for Compounding
- Veterinary
- Hospice
- Pain
- Hormone Replacement
- Dental
Lecture: Topical Dosage Forms
- Topical Base Comparison
- Review of equipment
- Ointment, Creams, Gels, and PLO
Lab: Topical Dosage Forms
- Ointment
- Cream
- Gel
- PLO
At the conclusion of Fundamental Compounding, the participating pharmacist or technician will be able to:
- Define nonsterile compounding and practices within the scope of USP <795> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Nonsterile Preparations
- Discuss commonly compounded nonsterile preparations
- Select components appropriate for use in compounded nonsterile preparations and evaluate information contained on the certificate of
analysis - Identify master formulation record requirements and assign appropriate beyond-use dates to compounded nonsterile preparations
- Demonstrate proper donning and doffing of garb
- Explain requirements for use, certification, and cleaning of primary engineering controls
- Calibrate the electronic balance and determine minimum accurate weighable quantity
- Practice mixing components using the Principles of Geometric Dilution
- Compound each of the following dosage forms while demonstrating appropriate use of equipment and proper compounding techniques:
- Solutions
- Suspensions
- Creams
- Ointments
- Gels
- Suppositories
- Troches
- Capsules
- Other Novel Dosage Forms
- Complete a Compounding Record for each compounded nonsterile preparation and perform quality control as applicable to each dosage form
- Summarize necessary label and labeling information
- Clean and sanitize compounding equipment and work areas
- Explain facility and environmental monitoring requirements
- Identify requirements for personnel training and competency; and list other documentation and SOPs needed by nonsterile compounding facilities
- Review essential aspects of Quality Assurance
- Briefly describe additional engineering controls, PPE, and personnel training needed when handling hazardous drugs
At the conclusion of Fundamental Compounding Law, the participating pharmacist or technician will be able to:
- Identify regulations and standards pertaining to nonsterile compounding
- Explain requirements for selection of components used in compounding
- Review key FDA guidance documents
ACA | ACVP | PPHI Member
- MEMBER BENEFIT: Save $100 when you add a 2nd attendee from the same pharmacy for only $1345.
ACA | ACVP | PPHI Student Pharmacist Member
Non-Member
Non-Member Student Pharmacist
REGISTER EARLY & SAVE $70!
Special promotional pricing will be automatically applied to all registrations completed six weeks before the beginning of class. No code necessary; does not apply to pharmacy student fees, EVP, or ACA Compound Academy. The best value in compounding training just got a little better.
Class Dates & Registration
For assistance registering for a compounding training course or to check availability for a course that is closed to online registration, call 901-383-8119 and leave a message or e-mail training@acainfo.org.

Basic Compounding & Calculations: An Overview is a home study program designed to provide the pharmacist and technician with a review of the calculations they need to make in order to prepare a variety of medications for their patients. This course may also be taken independently of the Fundamental Compounding and Calculations Course.
Cancellation Policy
30+ days before event – Full Refund
29-14 days before event – 50% Refund
13-1 days before event – No Refund
Classes are subject to cancellation due to circumstances beyond our control and you should always plan travel accordingly. We recommend purchasing travel insurance or booking with an airline that will allow you to reschedule your flight if the need arises.
Travel & Hotel Accommodations
Course participants are responsible for their own reservations and charges. The ACA National Training Laboratory is located at 2830 Summer Oaks Dr., Bartlett, TN 38134. Special rates for course participants are available at a selection of nearby hotels; information is available at www.acainfo.org/hotels or contact the ACA office at 901-383-8119 or training@acainfo.org.
ENROLLMENT POLICY
The mission of the American College of Apothecaries is to support the professional practice of the independent community pharmacist. Enrollment in ACA Pharmaceutical Compounding Training Courses is not limited to members of ACA, however, participants must meet one of the following criteria: own their own pharmacy; work for an independent community pharmacist as an associate; or work in a hospital, academia, or a pharmacy-related association. Participants registering as pharmacy students must be currently enrolled in an accredited school of pharmacy and be able to provide proof of status and class spaces may be limited.
Fundamental Compounding with Pharmacy Law, a practice-based course, has been approved for 21 contact hours (2.1 CEUs) of continuing education credit with 20 hours (2.0 CEUs) of Fundamental Compounding being obtained in the live programming with ACPE Universal Activity Numbers 0201-0000-20-002-L07-P/T and 1 hour (0.1 CEUs) of Fundamental Compounding Law being obtained in the live programming with ACPE Universal Activity Numbers 0201-0000-20-003-L03-P/T. These UAN have an initial release date of 3/5/2020 and an expiration date of 3/5/2023. Attendees will be required to complete an evaluation form at the completion of the program. Attendees requesting CE will be required to provide their NABP e-Profile ID and birthdate (MMDD) to receive credit for any ACPE-accredited CPE session. Due to new ACPE regulations, if required information is received after 60 days, a $250 late fee will be assessed before CE will be processed. Any unclaimed credit with a date of participation that is 6 months and older will not be eligible for processing.
The American College of Apothecaries, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. All sessions carrying the ACPE program number are approved for continuing education credit.