Pharmacy Technician Programs in Arlington, TX
Arlington, Texas, which is officially the third 'branch' of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metroplex, is perhaps best known, by Texans and the rest of the country, as the city where the area's most prominent sports teams - the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys - play.
But it's also home to more than 350,000 people and a vital part of one of the largest metroplexes in the country.
Those who call Arlington home have the option of working there, or in Fort Worth or Dallas if thy want to stay close to home. And for those interested in becoming a pharmacy technician the options for employment - well-paid employment at that - are increasing all the time.
The number of retail pharmacies is increasing and large medical facilities across the Metroplex need pharmacy technicians in increasing numbers too.
In Arlington, and Texas in general, it's fair to say it is a little harder to work as a pharmacy tech than it is in some other states. Texas is one of a handful of US states that mandates, rather than simply suggests, that a pharmacy technician is both certified and licensed.
The state accepts both the older PTCE or ExCPT certifications and you can then apply for licensing once you have passed one of them to formally become a CPhT.
To take either the PTCE certification exam set by the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) or the ExCPT exam set by the National Health Career Association, a candidate must have graduated from an approved education program.
The good news is that there are several of those available nearby for Arlington, TX residents to choose from, and it's those programs we are going to take a closer look at here.
Featured Pharmacy Technician Programs in Arlington, TX
Pharmacy Technician Employment and Pay Statistics for Arlington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019 there were 38,550 licensed pharmacy technicians registered and licensed in the State of Texas. Of those people, 11840 of them identified as living and working in the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington Metroplex.
In terms of expected salary, the outlook for pharmacy technicians in the Arlington area is a good one too. The Bureau reports that in 2019 average hourly wage was $17.38, with an average starting hourly salary of $11.10, rising to $23.78 in the 90th percentile for more experienced clinical pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Arlington, Texas
There are several colleges and vocational educational facilities that are convenient for residents of Arlington, Texas that offer precertification and preparation programs for future pharmacy technicians. Each offers something at least somewhat different and some are best suited to other types of students than others.
This might sound like it can make choosing the right program for you difficult, but with the right information it does not have to be. Here we are going to take a closer look at each of these pharmacy technician programs in Arlington and just what they have to offer.
Remington College (Online & Dallas Campus)
1800 Eastgate Dr, Garland, TX 75041|
1800-208-1950
Remington College, a national career college whose DFWA campus is located just outside Garland, offers students the chance to pursue at Associates Degree program in Pharmacy Technology. There is also the option of completing a pharmacy technician program online.
As mentioned previously, The State of Texas only requires certification and licensing to work as a pharmacy technician, but to work in more complex clinical settings employers are increasingly looking for more, so those holding a higher level of formal education can often more easily secure the highest paid and most responsible pharmacy tech positions earlier in their career.
The Associates Degree program offered by Remington College can be completed, on a full-time basis, in approximately 24 months.
In addition to covering the basics that students need to the PTCE or ExCPT pharmacy technician certification test -which a student can choose to sit after completing 2/3 of the course - the curriculum covers more advanced concepts like formulary and medication preparation for chemotherapy and the legal issues pharmacy techs must deal with when working in a clinical setting. Students must also complete a school arranged externship before graduation.
As a traditional educational college, the costs of the course are charged per credit hour. How much each credit costs varies according to your age, legal status, family size and income. To get a rough estimate you can make use of the school's own cost estimator on their website.
To pay for the program, both Federal and State financial aid is available to those who qualify and there are a limited number of school sponsored scholarships available to students who maintained higher GPAs in high school.
To be admitted students must meet minimum academic standards in addition to being high school graduates or hold a GED. They must also be over the age of 18 by graduation, able to pass drug and criminal background tests, hold a BLS life support certificate (which the school can help them obtain) and be up to date on all mandatory vaccinations.
The Remington College Associates Degree in Pharmacy Technology is a program that is both accredited by American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the PTCB and the State of Texas.
CCI Training School (Arlington Campus)
770 E Road to Six Flags, Suite 140, Arlington, TX 76011| (817) 668-3556
Located right in Arlington (with another campus not far away in downtown Dallas) CCI Training offers a pharmacy technician diploma program that can be completed in 9-12-months.
To be admitted to this hybrid online/lab based 'fast track' program you must be at least 18 years old and a legal US resident. Students must also hold a high school diploma or GED and provide a background check clear of felonies and major misdemeanors and a negative drug test.
The cost of attending the CCI Pharmacy Technician Certification program is determined on a case by case basis and varies according to a student's personal circumstances. To get a rough idea of possible costs you can make use of the school's tuition estimator on their website.
For those who qualify, Federal and State financial aid is available, and you may also be eligible for a state employment grant.
Just how long the diploma course takes to complete depends in large part how quickly students complete the online portion of the curriculum. Certain classes must be completed in a campus-based lab setting, and a 120-hour externship is to be completed as well.
Before formal graduation students also receive intensive exam prep so that they are better prepared to take the pharmacy technician certification exam of their choice.
The CCI Training Pharmacy Technician Diploma program is PTCB approved and recognized by the State of Texas as a suitable training program for candidates for a formal license.
Tarrant Count College District (Fort Worth Campus)
300 Trinity Campus Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76102| 817-515-8223
Tarrant County College is a more traditional community college. It offers a comprehensive in person, hands on Pharmacy Technician Certification program at its Trinity River Campus, located in Fort Worth, a short commute for Arlington residents.
As is the case for most community colleges the school serves a wide variety of both recent high school graduates and working adults. To be admitted to any of the school's programs this one included - students must meet minimum academic standards, including holding a high school diploma or GED and meeting a minimum GPA requirement.
Traditional Federal and State financial aid is available to those who qualify, as well as a limited number of state-based grants. The total cost of the course varies according to a student's personal circumstances and residence but interested parties can estimate it by making use of the net price calculator on their website.
The diploma program is offered in different two ways - with or without an additional clinical module that sees students placed in an outside internship with a local employer as well as additional lab work. This adds to the completion time frame as well as to the cost. The more complex, practical option takes a year to complete rather than nine months but does offer the kind of practical experience many employers - especially in a clinical pharmacy setting - are seeking even from entry level pharmacy techs.
The Tarrant County pharmacy technician program is approved by the PTCB training program and by the Texas Board of Pharmacy.