Pharmacy technicians and pharmacy technician trainees must be registered with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy before they begin working. The board is the agency that governs the licensing and registration of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacies within the state. According to regulations, pharmacists must provide technicians and trainees with initial training at the onset of employment. Formal training is not a requirement to work as a pharmacy technician in Texas. However, many individuals desirous of moving up this career path enroll in formal pharmacy technician programs in order to prepare for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam, which is a requirement for registering as a Pharmacy Technician in Texas. Certified pharmacy technicians typically earn more than their non-certified counterparts.
Dallas College – Richland
The pharmacy technician program at Richland College is offered in two parts. The first is the Community Pharmacy Program, which prepares students for entry-level retail pharmacy positions. Students will have access to mock pharmacy simulations and lab practice, career and resume mentoring, personal and professional development classes, externships at local retail pharmacies, and preparation for the PTCE. New students are admitted three times a year. Day and evening schedules are available. The Institutional Pharmacy technician program follows the Community Pharmacy module. It prepares students for employment in a hospital pharmacy and is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. This option is available to graduates of the Community Pharmacy program and can be completed in two semesters. The training includes the use of IV hoods for hands-on sterile compounding practice, Crash Cards and Pyxis Machines for hospital practices, practice in multiple pharmacy settings, and externships in various hospitals.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Attend an admissions interview
- Pass a background check
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
Tuition costs $79 per credit hour or $948 per semester for a full course load. Students must cover the cost of textbooks, fingerprinting fees and Board of Pharmacy registration.
- 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 online Pharmacy Technician program at CCI Training Center prepares certification and employment as a pharmacy technician. The 638-clock hour training may be completed in 25 weeks. Course modules include computer fundamentals, certification test preparation, anatomy and physiology, medical law and ethics, pharmacy calculations, fundamentals of pharmacy practice, pharmacology, community pharmacy practice, institutional pharmacy practice, certification review, insurance and inventory, externship, and career development. Courses are completed both online and on campus. At the conclusion of the theoretical component, students participate in a clinical externship at an approved facility. The entire program is 21.0 credit hours. Upon completion of the program, students can apply for the PTCB exam and obtain certification. Graduates can seek employment as a Pharmacy Technician.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Pass a urine drug screen
- Obtain a clear background check
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
The program cost of $9,985 includes tuition, books, and registration.
- Website: https://ccitraining.edu/
- Address: 9850 N Central Expressway – Suite 246 Dallas, TX 75231
- Phone: (214) 382-0370
Texas Career Institute
The online Pharmacy Technician Program at TCI Career Institute provides students with the option to prepare for a career as a pharmacy technician at their own pace. Students learn to prepare prescription orders, calculate dosages, update inventory, place orders, calculate payments, process insurance claims, and differentiate between generic and brand name drugs under the supervision of a licensed Pharmacist. Graduates of the program have the information they need to pass the PTCB exam and excel on the job.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Pass a urine drug screen
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
- Obtain a clear background check
The cost of the program is $5,000.
- Website: http://tcidallas.com/
- Address: 3302 N. Buckner Blvd Ste. 116 Dallas TX 75228
- Phone: (214) 275-9600
Asher College
Asher College’s Pharmacy Technician program trains students for a rewarding career in the field of pharmacy. The team of dedicated instructors covers hands-on training and support. They will also prepare students for success on the PTCE administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Other areas of study include HIPAA, Federal and State Regulations, filling prescriptions under the supervision of a pharmacist, use of software application relevant to the pharmacy, brand name and generic medications, classification and drugs and scheduled drugs, pharmacy billing software. 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. Students may complete additional courses to earn a degree. The program includes a 130-hour externship at a CVS or Walgreens pharmacy. Day, evening and weekend schedules are available. The duration of the program is 11 months.
Admission criteria:
- Must submit to a background check
- Pass a urine 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
The program cost of $18,200 includes tuition, registration fee, and books.
- Website: https://asher.edu/
- Address: 9330 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway Suite 650, Dallas, TX 75243
- Phone: 972-600-2818
Dallas College – North Lake
The pharmacy technician program at Richland College is offered in two parts. The first is the Community Pharmacy Program, which prepares students for entry-level retail pharmacy positions. Students will have access to mock pharmacy simulations and lab practice, career and resume mentoring, personal and professional development classes, externships at local retail pharmacies, and preparation for the PTCE. New students are admitted three times a year. Day and evening schedules are available. The Institutional Pharmacy technician program follows the Community Pharmacy module. It prepares students for employment in a hospital pharmacy and is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. This option is available to graduates of the Community Pharmacy program and can be completed in two semesters. The training includes use of IV hoods for hands-on sterile compounding practice, Crash Cards and Pyxis Machines for hospital practices, practice in multiple pharmacy settings, and externships in various hospitals.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Attend an admissions interview
- Pass a background check
- Must register as a pharmacy technician trainee with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
Tuition costs $79 per credit for Texas residents. Students must cover the cost of textbooks and supplies.
- 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 prepares students for employment in a hospital, community or home care pharmacy. The curriculum covers 96 contact hours of theory and practical instruction. Course topics 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. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to perform the duties and responsibilities of Institutional Pharmacy Technician with a ethical and legal guidelines of the profession, understand and use pharmaceutical terms, abbreviations and symbols, explain the general chemistry and physical properties of drugs in manufacturing and packaging operations, perform aseptic compounding and parenteral admixture operations, have a working knowledge of drug dosages, routes of administration, and dosage forms, perform record keeping functions associated with dispensing prescriptions, and conduct calculations for dosage determinations and solutions preparations. The duration of the program is 12 weeks. Graduates will be prepared to take the PTCB exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician.
Admission criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years old to enroll in the program
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Obtain a satisfactory TB skin test
- Must have basic computer skills
- Pass a criminal background check and fingerprinting
- Have a valid CPR card
- Submit to a drug screen
- Provide a valid photo ID to validate 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 pharmacy technician program at Tarrant County College awards an Occupational Skills Certificate and covers 232 to 311 contact hours. Students who complete the clinical experience will participate in a total of 312 certificate hours and those who opt out of the clinical will cover 232 certificate hours. The program is accredited by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. It will cover the fundamentals of community pharmacy technician principles and procedures. Courses 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. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to take the PTCB exam.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Obtain a passing score on The Adult Basic Education (TABE) test
- Comply with Texas State Board of Pharmacy regulations
- Pass a 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
- Submit to a drug screen
Financial aid is available for continuing education students. Tuition assistance is also available through scholarships and grants.
- Website: https://www.tccd.edu/
- Address: 245 East Belknap, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Phone: 817-515-8223