Texas is one of several that requires the registration and certification of pharmacy technicians. Preparation for registration includes the completion of an approved training program facilitated by an accredited school or administered by a pharmacist-in-charge at a community or institutional pharmacy. As of 2020, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board requires the completion of a formal program of prospective candidates for certification. Online pharmacy technician programs provide a convenient, affordable, and flexible option to prepare for national certification and employment as a pharmacy technician in a community or hospital pharmacy.
Dallas College – Richland Campus
The pharmacy technician program at Richland College is offered through the Department of Continuing Education. Students may complete parts of the training via distance learning. The lab sessions will be conducted on campus and the pharmacy externship will be scheduled at local health care facilities. Course modules include introduction to pharmacy, institutional pharmacy practice, community pharmacy practice, drug classification, and pharmaceutical math. Dallas College provides students with experienced and knowledgeable staff, small class sizes, interactive sessions, multicultural environments, and flexible schedules. Graduates will be prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The program is designed to be completed in two to three semesters.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must attend an admissions interview
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
- Obtain a satisfactory background check and urine drug screen
Tuition costs $948 per year for in-district students based on half-time enrollment. Books are included in the cost.
- Website: https://www.dallascollege.edu/
- Address: 12800 Abrams Rd, Dallas, TX, 75243 US
- Phone: (972) 238-6100
- Email: rlcce@dcccd.edu
CCI Training Center
The fast-track online pharmacy technician program offered by CCI Training Center provides students with the theoretical and practical education needed for success in the field. The program is delivered in an online format to give students the flexibility to manage family and work commitments. Students will work collaboratively with classmates and gain hands-on experience under the supervision of experienced faculty. They will gain knowledge required to operate equipment used to prepare prescription medications, measure medication amounts accurately, process prescription requests, maintain record of patients’ prescriptions, assist with pharmacy inventory, and package and label prescriptions for patients, doctors, and staff. They will have the confidence to sit for the pharmacy technician certification exam and register with the Board of Pharmacy. The curriculum covers a total of 638 including 158 lecture hours, 380 lab hours, and 100 externship hours. The total is 21.1 semester credits. Course modules include computer fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, fundamentals of pharmacy, insurance and inventory, career development, institutional pharmacy practice, and community pharmacy practice. The duration of the program is 7 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must have completed high school education or GED equivalent
- Must complete a campus tour
- Submit an initial application for admission and pay the registration fee of $100
- Complete an admissions assessment – Wonderlic SLE with a score of 14
- Attend an interview with a member of staff
The total program cost of $9,8985 includes tuition, books, and registration.
- Website: https://ccitraining.edu/
- Address: 9850 N Central Expressway – Suite 410 Dallas, TX 75231
- Phone: (214) 382-0370
Texas Career Institute
The online program offers students the flexibility to complete the requirements on their own terms. The training will cover pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, inventory management, patient records, pharmacy billing, preparing and dispensing prescriptions, packaging and labeling medications, generic and brand name drugs, customer service, and pharmacy operations. Course modules include Microsoft Office Essentials, Career Success, Typing Fundamentals, Medical Terminology, Pharmacy Practice Essentials, Pharmacy Technology, Pharmacy Law and Ethics, Advanced Career Development, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Calculations, and Advanced Pharmacy Practice. Day, evening and weekend schedules are available. Access to the online courses will be available for 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must submit to a background check and drug screen
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to participate in the pharmacy externship
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have access to a computer and internet
Tuition for the program is $5,000. It includes textbooks, ebooks, and course materials.
- Website: http://tcidallas.com/
- Address: 3302 N. Buckner Blvd Ste. 116 Dallas TX 75228
- Phone: (214) 275-9600
Dallas College – North Lake Campus
The pharmacy technician program at North Lake College is offered through the Department of Continuing Education. Students may complete parts of the training via distance learning. The training will require completion of interactive lab sessions and a pharmacy externship that will give students the opportunity to apply the skills learned in the classroom. Course modules include introduction to pharmacy, institutional pharmacy practice, community pharmacy practice, drug classification, and pharmaceutical math. Dallas College provides students with experienced and knowledgeable staff, small class sizes, interactive sessions, multicultural environments, and flexible schedules. Graduates will be prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The program is designed to be completed in two to three semesters.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must attend an admissions interview
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
- Obtain a satisfactory background check and urine drug screen
Tuition costs $948 per year for in-district students based on half-time enrollment. Books are included in the cost.
- Website: https://www.dallascollege.edu/
- Address: 5001 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75038
- Phone: 972-273-3000
Global Health Education Network
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program at Global Health Education Network includes flexibility of online modules. Students will acquire skills to dispense prescriptions under the direction of a registered pharmacist. The program includes 96 contact hours of theory and hands-on instruction. Areas of study include medical and pharmaceutical terminology, drug classification, packaging and labeling, pharmacy mathematics, unit dosage and solution preparation, aseptic compounding and parenteral IV admixture operations, record keeping, and drug distribution systems. Graduates will demonstrate ethical and legal principles in practice, understand the chemical and physical properties of drugs handled in manufacturing and packaging operations, perform aseptic compounding and parenteral admixture operations, and perform manipulative and record keeping functions. The program will also include preparation for success on the national PTCB exam. The program is designed to be completed in 12 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old to enroll in the program
- Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Submit a current TB skin test as part of the application
- Must demonstrate basic computer skills
- Pass a criminal background check and fingerprinting
- Must have current CPR for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association
- Must complete a satisfactory screen
- Provide a valid photo ID to validate the age
- Register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
Tuition for the program is $999. Books and supplies are an additional $150.
- Website: https://www.ceglobalhealth.com/
- Address: 1311 Marketplace Dr., Ste 180, Garland, TX.
- Phone: 972-698-7792
- Fax: 972-698-7794
- Email: admin@ceglobalhealth.com
Tarrant County College
The hybrid pharmacy technician program at Tarrant County College includes some modules that will be delivered online. It leads to an Occupational Skills Certificate which requires completion of 232 to 312 certificate hours including the clinical experience. The PTCB-accredited program covers the fundamentals of community pharmacy technician principles and procedures. The content is delivered online with some face-to-face activities. Course modules include Introduction to Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy Law, Pharmacotherapy and Disease, Drug Classification, Pharmacy Mathematics, and Pharmacy Technician Certification Review. Students will learn the role and responsibility of the pharmacy technician, how to identify brand name and generic drugs, the chemistry of drugs and their effect on the body, packaging and labeling medications, dosage calculations including unit dosages, the legal and ethical standards that govern practice, dispensing medications, and pharmacy terminology including abbreviations and symbols. Graduates will be prepared to take the PTCB exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
Admission criteria:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Obtain a passing score on The Adult Basic Education (TABE) test
- Attend a pharmacy technician information session
- Comply with Texas State Board of Pharmacy regulations
- Must obtain a satisfactory criminal background check – to participate in the pharmacy externship
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to participate in the pharmacy externship
- A drug screen and current immunization may be required by the clinical site
Financial aid is available for continuing education students through scholarships and grants.
- Website: https://www.tccd.edu/
- Address: 245 East Belknap, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Phone: 817-515-8223
Texas State University
The online pharmacy technician program at Texas State University is delivered 100 percent online. The program is designed to prepare students for success on the PTCB national certification exam. The curriculum covers federal state laws that govern pharmacies, ethics of pharmacy practice, and the history and role of the pharmacy technician in today’s health care system. Other topics include pharmacology, pharmaceutical calculations, communication skills, basic community and institutional pharmacy math to calculate dosages and dilutions, HIPAA regulations, lab module, cost analysis and purchasing procedures, and interactive lab for the retail and hospital settings. Students must be eligible for participation in a 100+ hour externship at a national pharmacy chain. The program is available for start any time and access will be granted for 12 months to complete.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a computer and access to the internet
The program cost of $2,599 includes access to the program for 12 months, course materials, and a voucher for the PTCB exam.
- Website: https://www.txst.edu/
- Address: 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666-4616
- Phone: 512-245-2507