Pharmacy Technician Programs in Austin, TX
Austin is ranked the 4th largest city in the state of Texas and among the top fastest growing cities in our Nation.
In-patient and out-patient pharmacy technicians are needed now more than ever. COVID-19 has placed extra responsibility on technicians and they have seen an increase in both their workload and momentum. To enter the medical field as a pharmacy technician there are three main stages in attaining a hired position.
First, candidates must receive an education through Board of Pharmacy-approved online courses, next, pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam offered by PTCB and finally, begin the application process for applying for jobs.
In this article we take a look at schools in Austin offering pharmacy technician programs.
Pharmacy Technician Requirements in Texas
According to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP), you need to have an active pharmacy technician trainee of pharmacy technician registration to perform pharmacy technician duties within the state. You must be a graduate of a college of pharmacy with 1500 hours of internship and must pass the licensure exam given by TSBP.
After passing a TSBP- accepted nationally recognized examination, graduates are given two years to change their Texas state registration status from Trainee to Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPHT).
At this time, the PTCB certification is the only Texas BoP approved exam to validate competency.
Salary and Employment Outlook for Pharmacy Techs in Austin
In terms of salary, pharmacy technicians in Texas can earn a decent amount - the average salary is $15.30 per hour and $31,830 per year. On the other hand, other pharmacy techs earn $9.97 per hour. It is a promising career with 19% projected growth from 2018 to 2028 with 3,990 job openings in the same projected year.
Pharmacy Technician Schools in Austin, TX
Many pharmacy schools in Texas have courses with flexible schedules, allowing students to fit their studies around their life.
The school that you choose should be accredited and recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and other medical-related organizations. The aim is to help you develop your competencies to become a skilled pharmacy tech.
Here are some top choices for pharmacy technician programs in Austin, TX that include the option of studying part time.
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd. Austin, Texas 78752 | 
512-223-5700
Technician Program with dual-accreditation - it is one of the few programs nationwide with transferable college credits and continuing pharmacy education.
The school is also accredited by the American Society of Health-System Plus Pharmacists.
ACC’s Pharmacy Technician Program is a two-semester certificate program that can be completed through continuing education or college credit.
The program can be held in the morning or evening from Monday to Thursday and distance classes are also available with weekend lab training and computer experience, in addition to 256 hours of externship. Once accepted into the program, students will register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy as a Technician Trainee.
The school also offers flexible online classes and in-person classes.
Students taking the program are eligible for student assistance.
After completing the course, students are prepared to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.
The tuition costs are $1025 excluding supply costs and lab fees.
The prerequisite requirements include High School Diploma or GED, transcript and assessment testing.
1701 W Ben White Blvd. Suite 100 Austin, TX 78704 | 844-783-6569
Southern Career Institute (SCI) has eight campuses all over the country. The main campus is located just minutes south of Downtown Austin in the seat of Travis County.
The school offers a Pharmacy Technician Program with a 40-week duration. A pharmacy technician trained at SCI is also eligible for Pharmacy Technician Certification and Microsoft Certification.
SCI Pharmacy Technician Program students are also eligible for financial aids, grants and loans. Students can visit their website to apply for grants and loans and other forms of financial assistance.
The school offers hybrid program/online teaching classes to ensure students’ safety during the pandemic. When you enroll on the program, you will be able to take two externships over six weeks to gain the practice and experience you need to begin working after graduation in organizations such as Walgreens, GenoRite, Target, Nix Health Hospital, Rite Away and many others.
The school also facilitates credit transfer to help students transition from one school to another. You must receive at least 70 percent to pass the course.
Pharmacy Technician Program applicants must submit proof of High School Diploma/GED, transcripts (for transferring credits), W2 and Social Security Card.
P.O. Box 1800 Killeen, TX 76540-1800 | 1-800-223-4760
The Pharmacy Technician course at Central Texas College (CTC) is recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
The course duration is 200 hours with accelerated classroom training emphasizing skills mastery through hands-on practice and supervision.
Classes are held at the Killeen campus during weekdays and are taught at an accelerated pace.
The prerequisites of the program include a copy of High School Diploma or GED and two references.
Students also need to have competency in basic computer operations, access to a computer, printing capabilities and an email address.
The Pharmacy Technician program is a non-credit short term course through the school’s CTC Continuing Education curriculum.
The course fee is at $2,595 including consumable supplies and certificate of completion, or you can upgrade to $2,712 which includes the certification exam.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam is essential because it raises the possibility of getting a better pay and getting hired since it is nationally recognized.
Students will receive a certificate of completion within two or three weeks after the class ends.
Students can also apply for financial aid as long as they completed the academic year.
10701 S 1ST ST, Austin, TX 78748 | (512) 841-9900
Akins Early College High School is located in Austin, Texas - named after Dr W. Charles Akins.
The school offers a variety of early college high school programs and courses including the Pharmacy Tech Practicum.
The Pharmacy Tech Practicum is a course that provides students with the knowledge and skills for passing the Pharmacy Tech Certification or getting a license for other health careers.
Akins Early College High School is certified and recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
After taking the course, students will be certified by the PTCB and recognized nationally as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).
902 College Avenue | Brenham, TX 77833 | 979-830-4000
Blinn College District has various campuses that are located all over the country.
The school offers quality education at an affordable price. The tuition rate is set according to the students’ permanent place of residence.
It offers day, night and online course options for 160 contact hours Pharmacy Technician Program.
Online classes are also offered at $1,450. However, the schedule is not specified. It is important to reach out to the school for other details such as the schedule of classes and other requirements.
After completing the course, students will be prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam.
Students can also apply for financial assistance and scholarships programs. 60% of Blinn students received financial aid during the 2018-2019 academic year.
The program is based on the certification standards set by the American Pharmaceutical Association.
The American Pharmaceutical Association is responsible for advancing the pharmacy profession, including student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The prerequisites include submission of documents, TSIA, SAT/ACT scores and results of bacterial meningitis test.
2600 S 1st Street Temple, Texas 76504 | 254-298-8282
Temple College offers the Pharmacy Technician course to qualified students. Upon graduation, students receive a certificate of completion and become eligible to apply for Pharmacy Technician registration in their state, and also be prepared to take the to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or National Healthcareers Association (NHA) examinations.
The prerequisites include High School Diploma, GED, or High School Equivalency Certificate, Social Security card, background check, drug screening test and immunizations. Classes are limited to 15 students.
The total cost of the course is $2,350 including tuition and textbooks and students can pay for it through a flexible payment plan. Eligible students may also avail 50% off the tuition fee costs and other student loans.
Moreover, additional costs may include expenses for Drug Screen, Set of Scrubs, CPR, Tech Trainee Licence and more.
The 200-hour course is offered blended online. In other words, most of the course activity is carried out online, but there are some required face-to-face instructional activities such as virtual meetings using Microsoft Teams, lectures, discussions, labs, or other in-person learning activities.
Upon completion of the course, student may be eligible for an off-site externship of 120 hours to gain real-world experience.
455 E Central Texas Expressway, Suite 106 Harker Heights, TX 76548 | (254)-213-3270
The Training Center of Central Texas offers a 12-week Pharmacy Technician program that covers classroom academic and laboratory/clinical spanning over a total of 144 clock hours.
Classes are generally held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (4 hrs per day) from
5:30 pm – 9:30 pm (subject to change).
The school is located in Central Texas and it also offers medical-related short courses such as Clinical Medical Assistant Program, Dental Assistant Program and more.
The school is Pharmacy Technician Board certified with faculty that are certified by Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and Career Colleges & Schools of Texas (CCST).
Students can apply for No Interest Tuition Payment Plan and Academic Loan Funding.
Prospective students of the Pharmacy Technician Program must not have any drug related charges, felony charges, and/or convictions of any kind for the past 3 years.
All successful graduates of this program are required to register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee. Students will also be eligible to
sit the PCTE upon completion.
Approx. total charges for the program is $4,173 and includes registration, background check, drug test, lab fees, basic life support, uniform, books and national certification examination fees, state board trainee registration fees and fingerprinting.