Compounder Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory Framework for Compounding

Covers the functional categories of compounding oversight, including traditional, sterile, and outsourcing designations. Connects compliance requirements to daily practice decisions.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacist Scope and Ethics

Defines professional responsibilities and ethical boundaries unique to compounding pharmacists. Grounds decision-making in patient safety and professional accountability.

Lesson 3 • History and Role of Compounding

Traces compounding from ancient apothecary practice to contemporary pharmacy. Contextualizes why individualized preparations remain clinically necessary.

Lesson 1 • Electrolyte and Osmolarity Calculations

Applies milliequivalent and milliosmole concepts to parenteral and oral electrolyte preparations. Essential for sterile and pediatric compounding accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Concentration and Dilution Calculations

Covers percent strength, ratio strength, and dilution equations for liquid and solid preparations. Directly supports accurate ingredient weighing and measuring.

Lesson 3 • Stability and Beyond-Use Dating Calculations

Introduces mathematical models for estimating preparation stability and assigning beyond-use dates. Links calculation outcomes to labeling and patient safety.

Lesson 4 • Units, Measurements, and Conversions

Reviews metric, apothecary, and household measurement systems used in compounding. Accurate unit conversion prevents dosing errors in all preparation types.

Lesson 1 • Solvents and Vehicles

Covers aqueous, hydroalcoholic, and non-aqueous vehicles used to dissolve or suspend active ingredients. Proper vehicle selection determines bioavailability and patient acceptability.

Lesson 2 • Physicochemical Properties of Drug Substances

Examines solubility, pKa, partition coefficient, and polymorphism as they affect formulation design. These properties guide vehicle and excipient selection.

Lesson 3 • Flavoring, Coloring, and Sweetening Agents

Reviews taste-masking strategies and colorant use to improve pediatric and geriatric patient adherence. Connects organoleptic properties to formulation acceptability.

Lesson 4 • Thickeners, Emulsifiers, and Suspending Agents

Addresses rheology modifiers, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents used in semi-solid and liquid preparations. Proper use ensures uniform drug distribution and patient compliance.

Lesson 1 • Oral Liquids and Suppositories

Covers solution, suspension, and suppository preparation including mold selection and pouring technique. These forms serve patients unable to swallow solid dosage forms.

Lesson 2 • Compounding Facility and Equipment

Describes workspace design, equipment qualification, and cleaning requirements for non-sterile areas. A properly maintained environment is the first line of quality assurance.

Lesson 3 • Weighing, Measuring, and Mixing

Covers analytical balance operation, volumetric measurement, and mixing techniques for powders and liquids. Precision at this stage determines final preparation accuracy.

Lesson 4 • Topical and Semi-Solid Preparations

Addresses ointment, cream, gel, and paste preparation using appropriate bases and mixing methods. Topicals represent a large share of compounded prescriptions.

Lesson 1 • Sterility Testing and Media Fills

Introduces sterility testing methods and media-fill simulation as validation tools for aseptic processes. Results determine operator competency and process reliability.

Lesson 2 • Microbiology and Contamination Control

Reviews microbial sources, contamination routes, and sterilization mechanisms relevant to sterile compounding. Understanding contamination risk drives every aseptic decision.

Lesson 3 • Aseptic Technique and Garbing

Teaches hand hygiene, garbing sequence, and aseptic manipulation skills for sterile preparation. Correct technique is the primary defense against microbial contamination.

Lesson 4 • Cleanroom Design and Classification

Explains ISO classification, airflow design, and pressure differentials for sterile compounding environments. Proper facility design is a prerequisite for aseptic processing.

Lesson 1 • Small-Volume Parenterals and Syringes

Addresses preparation of unit-dose syringes, intramuscular injections, and small-volume IV piggybacks. Precise volume measurement is critical for patient safety.

Lesson 2 • Ophthalmic and Otic Preparations

Teaches isotonicity, pH, and sterility requirements specific to ophthalmic and otic compounded products. These routes demand strict tolerances to prevent tissue damage.

Lesson 3 • Inhalation and Nasal Preparations

Covers nebulization solutions, nasal sprays, and inhalation suspension requirements. Particle size and tonicity directly affect drug deposition and efficacy.

Lesson 4 • Hazardous Drug Sterile Compounding

Applies enhanced containment and personal protective equipment requirements to cytotoxic and hazardous sterile preparations. Protects compounders while maintaining product sterility.

Lesson 1 • In-Process and Finished Product Testing

Addresses pH measurement, weight variation, appearance, and potency testing during and after compounding. Testing at multiple stages catches errors before patient dispensing.

Lesson 2 • Documentation and Record Keeping

Teaches master formulation records, compounding records, and deviation documentation requirements. Accurate records support traceability, recall capability, and regulatory inspections.

Lesson 3 • Environmental Monitoring Programs

Establishes viable and non-viable particle monitoring protocols for sterile compounding areas. Monitoring data validates cleanroom performance and triggers corrective action.

Lesson 4 • Quality Management System Principles

Introduces the components of a pharmacy quality management system including policies, procedures, and continuous improvement. A functioning QMS is the backbone of safe compounding.

Lesson 1 • Formulation Development and Optimization

Applies design-of-experiment principles and preformulation data to develop robust compounded formulas. Systematic development reduces trial-and-error and improves reproducibility.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric and Geriatric Compounding

Addresses age-specific dosage form selection, excipient safety, and palatability for vulnerable populations. These patients often have no commercially available alternatives.

Lesson 3 • Veterinary Compounding Applications

Covers species-specific dosing, palatability, and regulatory distinctions for veterinary compounded preparations. Veterinary compounding expands pharmacy practice into a growing market.

Lesson 4 • Hormone and Bioidentical Compounding

Examines evidence, formulation strategies, and monitoring considerations for compounded hormone preparations. Students evaluate clinical appropriateness and communicate risks to prescribers.