FoundationsUSP 〈795〉
Non-Sterile Compounding — USP 〈795〉
Preparation techniques, excipient handling, BUD calculation, quality control, and documentation for compounded preparations.
Duration 40 h
Next cohort January 2026
Professional certification · USP 〈795〉 · 〈800〉 · Bayamón, PR
Hands-on compounding training, inside a working laboratory.
In-person courses in Bayamón for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, with supervised practice and a curriculum aligned to USP 〈795〉 and USP 〈800〉. A program affiliated with Santa Cruz Pharma Care.
- Working laboratory
- USP 〈795〉 / 〈800〉
- Small cohorts
- Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Why Santa Cruz Compounding Academy
Affiliated program
Santa Cruz Compounding Academy grew out of Santa Cruz Pharma Care, a Bayamón pharmacy with over fifteen years of active practice in compounded preparations and patient-specific medications.
Supervised practice
Cohorts operate in the pharmacy's working laboratory. Every technique is performed the same day it's taught, with individual instructor review and a documented portfolio of preparations.
USP-aligned
Curriculum built chapter by chapter from the current USP 〈795〉 and 〈800〉. Regulatory updates are folded into the material between cohorts.
Programs
Available courses
Three certification programs aligned with USP chapters 〈795〉 and 〈800〉. Each combines theoretical foundations with supervised laboratory practice.
- View course
IntermediateUSP 〈800〉
Hazardous Drug Handling — USP 〈800〉
Occupational risk, personal protective equipment, engineering controls, and containment and decontamination procedures.
View courseDuration 32 h
Next cohort February 2026
AdvancedUSP 〈795〉 + 〈800〉
Combined USP 〈795〉 + 〈800〉 Program
Full coverage of both chapters plus an integrative advanced-practice module with real-pharmacy cases.
View courseDuration 60 h
Next cohort January 2026
What you'll learn
Competencies you practice, document, and can have reviewed.
The program trains six disciplines a pharmacist needs to prepare medications safely, document them rigorously, and stay compliant with current standards.
Preparation technique
Weighing, trituration, incorporation, and homogenization of non-sterile preparations — particle-size control, uniformity, and final-formulation verification.
Documentation and traceability
Master sheets, batch records, quality control, and labeling per USP 〈795〉 — inspection-ready for Pharmacy Board review.
Occupational safety under USP 〈800〉
Personal protective equipment, engineering controls, medical surveillance, and procedures that protect the team, the patient, and the environment.
BUD calculation
Beyond-Use Dating by preparation category, storage conditions, and dosage form.
Excipients and base handling
Selecting topical and oral bases, physicochemical compatibility, and the stability and preservation of the final preparation.
Compliance and audit readiness
Preparation for regulatory inspections, internal quality audits, and ongoing review of standard operating procedures.
Who it's for
Designed for professionals who work with real preparations.
We structure the courses for four distinct profiles. Each one enters with a defined professional goal and leaves with documented, immediately applicable competencies.
Licensed pharmacists
Practicing professionals who want to add compounding to their practice with technical judgment and regulatory grounding — or to deepen competencies they already exercise.
- Accredited and documented continuing education
- Immediately applicable in your pharmacy
Pharmacy technicians
Technical staff assisting preparations who need structured training in procedures, safety, and quality documentation.
- Hands-on training under an instructor
- Per-participant competency report
Owners and managers
Owners and administrators evaluating whether to open or expand a compounding service who need USP compliance from day one.
- Private cohorts for full teams
- Guidance on requirements and equipment
Students in transition
Advanced students and professionals changing fields who want a technical entry into compounding with real mentorship.
- Accessible minimum prerequisites
- Mentorship by practicing pharmacists
Specialties
Practice areas the program covers.
The curriculum prepares graduates for the practice areas that Santa Cruz Pharma Care serves every day, applying the principles of USP 〈795〉 and 〈800〉 to each population and need.
Dermatological
Personalized creams for spots, wrinkles, and acne — formulating topical bases and handling active ingredients.
Hormonal
Progesterone, estrogens, and other bioidentical hormones tailored to each patient's specific needs.
Pediatric
Pediatric medications with kid-friendly flavors and weight-adjusted dosing.
Veterinary
Animal formulations adjusted by species, weight, and required presentation.
Topical anesthetics · BLT
BLT formulas (benzocaine, lidocaine, tetracaine) to minimize pain and maximize comfort in procedures.
General compounding
Personalization of medications for each patient's unique needs — alternative dosage forms and patient-specific excipients.
Laboratory
Where each technique is trained.
Three views of the campus's daily work: the controlled bench, the non-sterile preparation, and the safety cabinet for hazardous drugs.
Compounding bench with analytical balance and classified raw materials. 
Mortar and pestle in use during a non-sterile preparation. 
Biological safety cabinet for hazardous drug handling under USP 〈800〉.
Frequently asked questions
What pharmacists ask before enrolling.
If your question isn't here, write to us. We respond within 48 business hours.
- Each cohort blends online theoretical sessions with hands-on lab practice at Santa Cruz Pharma Care in Bayamón. The theory component is flexible and asynchronous; the practicum runs in scheduled intensive blocks so practicing professionals can participate without disrupting their routine.
- Yes. Upon completing every module and passing both the practical and written assessments, you receive a Santa Cruz Compounding Academy professional certificate documenting instruction hours and competencies in USP 〈795〉 and USP 〈800〉. It serves as evidence of continuing education and of audit readiness.
- For the foundations programs, an active pharmacist license or current studies in pharmacy / pharmacy technology is enough. The USP 〈800〉 module is recommended after foundations or with equivalent experience in non-sterile preparations. If you're unsure, write to us before enrolling.
- Once your enrollment is confirmed you receive access to the student portal with the theoretical material, cohort calendar, USP reference reading, and downloadables. The hands-on sessions are scheduled in blocks at the Bayamón campus and announced at least two weeks in advance.
- Yes. For pharmacies that want to train their full team we offer private cohorts — either at our Bayamón campus or, depending on scope, at the client's site. Includes curriculum personalization and a per-participant competency report. Write to us to coordinate.
- Yes. We accept full refunds up to seven (7) calendar days before the cohort starts, no questions asked. After that date you can transfer your seat to another person or to a future cohort at no penalty.
Location
Campus in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
The academy shares a campus with Santa Cruz Pharma Care and operates inside its working laboratory. Minutes from PR-22 and PR-2.
- Office
- Edificio Médico Santa Cruz · 73 Calle Santa Cruz, Suite 101, Bayamón, PR 00960
- Hours
- Monday to Friday · 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Parking
- On-site parking available for cohort participants.
- Access
- Minutes from PR-22 and PR-2. Transit coordination available on request.
Follow us on Instagram
Educational content from @santacruzpharmacare.
Curated posts from the affiliated pharmacy — short explainers on compounding, types of preparations, and when a personalized formula makes sense.
What is compounding? — An introduction to preparing patient-specific medications.
View on Instagram
Commercial or personalized? — When the off-the-shelf drug falls short.
View on Instagram
Did you know not every medication comes ready for you?
View on Instagram
Types of compounded preparations — the most common dosage forms.
View on Instagram
Inaugural cohort · January 2026
Reserve your seat for the next cohort.
Seats limited to twelve participants. Enrollment closes when the cohort is full.
Reserve a seat
Questions before you decide? Write to us