Pharmacy Technician Programs in San Antonio,TX
San Antonio is a lively, multicultural city that is at the heart of everything that makes the USA great, from its history and beauty to its diversity. It is also home to an ever growing number of pharmacies, both retail pharmacies and those based in hospitals, care homes and urgent care centers.
These pharmacies all need to be staffed, and pharmacy technicians are very important members of those staffs. For those who wish to enter the field the career outlook is bright, both in terms of salary and growth.
Unlike many other states, in the State of Texas a pharmacy technician must be formally certified, licensed and registered in order to work. This does mean that in order to do all that any San Antonio resident who wants to enter this exciting and challenging field must attend a pharmacy technician school in San Antonio to pass the PTCE certification test.
Featured Pharmacy Technician Schools in San Antonio
Statistics
San Antonio vs Texas Pharmacy Technicians Employment
In the Lone Star State, which we all know is a very big one, there were 37,200 certified pharmacy technicians working in 2019. Of those people 3,490 identified themselves as San Antonio residents.
Salary for Pharmacy Technicians in San Antonio, TX
In terms of salary, the Bureau of Labor Statistics in their annual survey found that the average hourly wage for a San Antonio based certified pharmacy technician in 2019 was $17.87. Starting salaries in the lowest 10th percentile averaged a respectable $13.42 per hour rising to $23.37 in the 90th percentile.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in San Antonio, TX
As previously mentioned, Texas is one of a handful of US states that requires pharmacy technicians to be formally certified and licensed in order to work. State licensing can only be applied for after a candidate has passed their PTCE and holds formal certification.
This means that choosing the right technician school in San Antonio is important, perhaps even more important than it is in other states. There are a number of them to choose from, but they do all offer something different.
In order for a pharmacy technician school to work for you, it will need it to fit your lifestyle, schedule, budget and even age and family situation. You will also need to make sure that the program will give you all the knowledge and experience you need to pass the PTCE. In other words, there is a lot to consider!
With all this in mind, to help you make the right choices for you, here is a little more about each of them.
238 SW Military Drive, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78221 | Tel: 512-437-7500
Southern Careers Institute is a respected for profit vocational school with campuses located across Texas, including two in San Antonio. Their Pharmacy Technician Certificate, which is offered at their San Antonio South campus, offers a comprehensive introduction to the field for both recent high school graduates and working adults interested in a career change.
Southern Careers Institute Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Fees for the program are charged on a per credit basis, and that cost varies according to a student's age, living situation, dependent status and family size and income. The school does offer a Net Price Calculator on their website to help, but final costs can only be determined when you meet with an admissions representative.
Federal and state financial aid is available to those who qualify, and the school reports that this, along with grants, is how the vast majority of their students pay for their schooling.
In order to be admitted to the program, students must meet all the following requirements:
- Be over the age of 18
- Hold a high school diploma or GED
- Be a legal US resident
- Pass drug and criminal background checks
- Complete fingerprinting with the Texas State Medical Board and register as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee.
The certification program is offered as a full time, on campus course, or, if you are approved and pass a basic skills test, a hybrid online and classroom program. Most full time students complete the course in 33 weeks, while for those following a hybrid program it may take longer.
All students are required to gain practical experience with a local employer, but this is an opportunity the school arranges for you, often with a retail pharmacy conveniently located for you. Between classroom learning and hands-on experience students are given all they need to succeed in passing their PTCE and meeting the state's licensing requirements, including additional revision assistance online when preparing to take your certification exam.
The Pharmacy Tech program is approved by both the PTCB and the Texas State Medical Board, while the school as a whole is accredited by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and has been for over 25 years.
Alamo College District - Northwest Vista College or San Antonio College
1819 N. Main Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212-3941 | Tel: 210-486-0000
The Alamo College System maintains a number of campuses across the San Antonio region, and both their San Antonio College Campus and Northwest Vista College offer the Pharmacy Technician Certification Program that students need to complete in order to become certified.
The college is a degree granting non-profit and in addition to completing the certificate program students can choose to continue their education after certification and complete an AAS degree in Pharmacy Technology as well.
Alamo College District Certificate and AAS Degree in Pharmacy Technology
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Program is a credit based offering, and the current cost per credit is dependent on a student's age, living circumstances and family income. You will need to complete a session with a financial advisor at the school to determine your costs.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify, as are a number of Federal and State grants. Students may also consider a private student loan company like Sallie Mae if they are unable to meet all their costs out of pocket.
The program is a competitive one and not all students are admitted. During the application process students will be evaluated and required to enrol at the school and complete courses in PHRA 1301- Introduction to Pharmacy and HITT 1305- Medical Terminology before submitting an application. Students must also be able to pass a criminal background and drug test, prove their legal status in the US and submit their fingerprints for storage in the state database.
This is a three semester course that most students complete in 30-33 weeks of full time study. In addition to classroom learning students are obliged to complete a 120-hour externship with an external local employer as arranged by the school.
The course is a very comprehensive one that offers a broad overview of every aspect of the duties a pharmacy technician is expected to perform as well as the billing and privacy issues they face. The course is also somewhat unique in that passing it also allows students to obtain a number of Microsoft certifications, a plus when proving their computer proficiency to future employers.
The Northwest Vista College/San Antonio College program is one of only a small number of pharmacy technology programs in the area that is fully accredited by the ASHP. In addition it is approved by the PTCB and the Texas Medical Licensing Board. The school itself is accredited by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
229 SW Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78221-0138 | Tel: 830-626-7007
Southwest Schools - also known as 'Career U' operates ten campuses across the central and south-west Texas area including a large campus in San Antonio. Their Pharmacy Technician Certification Program is a career-focused offering designed to give students the knowledge and tools needed to pass the PTCE while getting them to work as quickly as possible.
Southwest School of Business and Technical Careers Pharmacy Technician Certification Program
The programs costs are calculated on a per credit basis, and those credits are charged at different rates according to a student's age, family circumstances and family income. In order to determine your costs you will need to consult with one of the school's financial counselors.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify as are a number of Federal and State grants that do not need to be paid back. In addition, students can also consider a private student loan lender like Sallie Mae to help meet the full cost of attendance.
In order to be admitted to the program students must hold a high school diploma or GED and be at least 17 years old. They must also be able to prove their legal status and to pass criminal background and drug tests and submit fingerprinting for storage in the state database.
The certification can be completed as a full time day or evening and weekend program Most students complete the day program in 33 weeks while the night program takes around 53-55 weeks to complete.
As per state requirements for licensing students must complete both classroom and lab based coursework and an external work experience with a real world employer. This course covers all those bases, offering students a solid foundation on which to build their new career.
The Southwest School's Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program is approved by the PTCB and the Texas State Medical Board. The school itself is accredited by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
Other Top Rated Pharmacy Technician Programs in San Antonio
1964 SW Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78221-1474 | Tel: 210-957-3826
The College of Health Care Professions was founded by the MacGregor Medical Association at the Texas Medical Center in the 1960s as a way to train medical staff to work in their medical practices across the Houston and San Antonio areas. Over the years the school has grown into a respected independent for profit vocational school that still focuses on medical education for support personnel.
Their San Antonio campus is centrally located and caters to both recent high school graduates and older adults who want to get to work in their new career field quickly.
CHCP Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Program
The cost of the course is charged on a per credit basis. The cost of credits varies according to a student's personal situation and income, and can only be determined for each individual via a formal meeting with an admissions counselor.
Financial aid is available and, according to the school itself that is how 90% of students pay for their education, while also taking advantage of a number of Federal and State grants that do not need to be paid back.
In order to enrol in the program, students must:
- Be over the age of 18
- Be able to prove legal US residency
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Pass a criminal background check and a drug test
- Submit their fingerprints to the state database
- Pass a basic computer skills test
This program is designed to be completed on campus on a full time basis and it takes approximately 36 weeks to complete, including the mandated externship with a local employer that is arranged for students by the school.
As a PTCB approved course it offers all the knowledge and practical skills needed to pass the PTCE and, according to the school, 80% of its graduate students do so on the first try.
The Pharmacy Technician Program offered by The College of Health Care Professions is approved by both the PTCB and the Texas State Medical Commission. The school as a whole is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
4810 Eisenhauer Rd, Suite 240 San Antonio , TX 78218 | Tel: 210.570.7422
Good Careers Academy is a branch of Goodwill, the national agency devoted to the advancement of lower income Americans. Their Pharmacy Technician program is designed to offer a broad overview of the profession and prepare students to take - and pass - the PTCE exam and obtain state licensing.
The Academy is designed to serve all sectors of the local population and is open to all San Antonio residents who meet the basic requirements who are over the age of 18.
Good Careers Academy Pharmacy Technician Program
The estimated cost of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Program offered by Good Careers Academy is $3,500, although some students may pay less based on a sliding scale fee assessment which will be performed as a part of the enrollment process. This cost includes all books and supplies as well as the fee for taking the PTCE upon graduation.
In addition, before starting this program students must pass basic classes in English, Math and Office Technologies, with each course costing an additional $100 to $200 dollars.
Financial is not available to meet costs, but there is an interest free payment plan students can take advantage of or they may want to consider taking a loan from a private lender like Sallie Mae.
In order to apply to the program students must:
- Be over the age of 18
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Be able to pass a criminal background check and a drug test
- Take and pass prerequisite classes in basic office skills as detailed previously.
- Submit their fingerprints to the state database.
The course is designed to be completed in approximately 35 weeks on a full time basis, with classes available in the day or in the evening. It covers all the basics needed to pass the PTCE and obtain state licensing and offers an additional look at professional ethics and customer service that is more in depth than covered in many other programs. All classes are campus based and include lab experiences and short placements for work experience with local employers which the school can help to arrange.
The Good Careers Academy program offerings are accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and the Pharmacy Technician Certificate program is approved by the PTCB.
Please reach out to us if we are missing your school's pharmacy technician/assistant program or if we need to update your listing information.