Pharmacy Technician Programs in Dallas, TX
Dallas is not only the US's ninth largest city it is one of its most diverse in terms of population, industry spread, culture, architecture and cuisine. The City of Dallas itself is home to more than 1,343,500 people, and when you factor in the fact that it is a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which encompasses the city of Fort Worth and large areas of Collin, Denton, Kaufman and Rockwall counties as well and you can see that area pharmacies have a lot of people to serve!
The demand for pharmacies is increasing, as the population ages and access to more medications becomes more affordable for many. Pharmacies are changing too. In addition to traditional retail pharmacies there are facilities located in nursing homes and care centers, in urgent care facilities and the number of online pharmacies serving the Dallas area - and the country as a whole - is increasing as well.
This means that the job opportunities available to certified pharmacy technicians are increasing too. However, there is a slight wrinkle for those wishing to become one. Texas is one of only a handful of states that MANDATES, rather than simply prefers, that a pharmacy technician be certified and licensed to work.
This means that while in other states certification via the PTSB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) or the National Health Career Association is a 'nice' option, in Dallas it's a must.
For most this means attending a pharmacy technician school. But what does Dallas have to offer in terms of such schools and which of them might be best for you? That is what we are going to take a closer look at here.
Featured Pharmacy Technician Schools in Dallas, TX
Dallas Pharmacy Technician Employment and Pay Statistics
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020 there were 36,690 licensed pharmacy technicians in the State of Texas. Of those, 11840 identified as residing and working in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
Source: CCI Training
The pay outlook for pharmacy technicians in the Dallas area is good too.
The average hourly wage in 2020 was $17.74, with an average starting hourly salary of $12.06 in 2020 which rose to an average of $24.24 in the 90th percentile.
Dallas Pharmacy Technician Schools
There are several schools and educational institutions convenient to Dallas Metroplex residents that currently offer pharmacy technician certification and education programs.
Each of them offers something at least a little different though, and some are better suited to certain student demographics than others. This can make choosing the right one for you a little difficult.
To help you make the right choice, here is a closer look at some of those programs.
Remington College
1800 Eastgate Drive, Garland, TX 75041 | 
(972) 686-7878
The State of Texas requires a minimum of certification and licensing to work as a pharmacy technician, but many employers are looking for more, especially when hiring candidates to work in clinical settings such as hospitals, long term care facilities and urgent care clinics, as well as some online pharmacies.
Remington College, a national career college whose Dallas campus is located just outside the city limits in Garland, offers an Associate's Degree program for those who want to offer employers additional educational credentialing from the outset, boosting their chances of securing the highest paid and most responsible pharmacy technician positions.
The program, which is entirely campus based, is offered to students of all ages - provided they are over 18. To be admitted students must be high school graduates, or hold an equivalent GED, and meet minimum GPA standards. They must also be able to prove they have the legal right to study in the US prior to enrollment. As it is a requirement to both take a pharmacy technician certification program and obtain licensing from the state students must also pass drug and criminal background checks.
In terms of costs, as this is a more traditional college, they are calculated according to a student's unique personal situation, taking into account age, legal status, marital status, family size and income. The school does provide a cost estimator on its website here.
Federal and State financial aid is available to those who qualify and the college itself offers a limited number of scholarships and grants.
The course itself takes approximately 24 months to complete on a full-time basis. In addition to covering the basics needed to pass the PTCE or ExCPT pharmacy technician certification test -which can be taken after a student has completed 2/3 of the course - the course explores more advanced formulary and medication preparation techniques as well as the additional legal issues pharmacy technicians deal with when working in a clinical setting. An offsite internship is arranged by the school as well.
The Remington College Associates Degree in Pharmacy Technology program is accredited by American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and is an approved educational program in the eyes of both the PTCB and the State of Texas.
CCI Training
10830 N Central Expy Suite 410 Dallas , TX 75231 | (972) 846-8796
For those considering CCI Training to complete a Pharmacy Technician Certification course the school offers two area campuses: one in the heart of downtown Dallas and the other in nearby Arlington.
This 9-12 month program is geared towards those who are already out in the world of work and/or have family to care for. Flexible day/evening schedules and a hybrid learning program that allows students to complete some of their coursework online at home means that for a busy adult this may be an ideal choice, especially if they are holding down a job but are hoping to use the course as a way to make a lucrative career change.
To be admitted to the program students must be at least 18 years old and a legal US resident. They must also hold a high school diploma or GED, complete a short application essay detailing their hopes for their career and other educational goals and provide a background check clear of felonies and major misdemeanors and pass a drug test.
The cost of attending CCI training's Pharmacy Technician Certification program is assessed on a case by case basis and varies according to personal circumstances. The school does offer a cost estimator on their website. Federal and State financial aid is available to those who qualify as well as a limited number of state employment readiness grants.
The course itself takes between 9 and 12 months to complete, depending on the pace a student proceeds with the online portion of the curriculum.
The classroom-based learning includes full lab sessions and all material needed to pass the certification exam is thoroughly covered.
Sample classes:
- Computer Fundamentals
- Allied Health Math
- Pharmacy Calculations
- Phlebotomy
- Pharmacology
- Medical Law, Ethics & Professionalism
- Externship
Just prior to graduation students also receive intensive exam prep so that they are better prepared to take either the PTCE or the ExCPT certification exam.
The CCI Training Pharmacy Technician Certification program is PTCB approved and recognized by the State of Texas as a suitable training program for licensing candidates.
"I selected CCI as my choice to go to school because of the small intimate setting, the classroom participation and one on one training…. also because not only do you get the certification, but also CPR & Phlebotomy training." De'Cean Jones - Pharmacy Technician Graduate
Richland College
12800 Abrams Road Dallas, TX 75243 | (469) 666-7509
Richland College is a part of the larger Dallas College system and provides education suitable for both new high school graduates and working adults. The Richland campus is at the edge of the city proper and offers a quiet, picturesque learning environment but is well served by local highways and transportation.
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Program the school offers is a campus-based offering designed to be completed on a full-time basis. To be admitted to the program students must be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED. In addition, they must pass criminal background and drug tests and be able to prove their legal status in the US.
The cost of the program is dependent on a student's personal circumstances and status. The school offers a cost estimator you can make use of here.
Federal and State student loan aid is available to those who qualify, and some state employment grants are also available to job seekers and the under employed via the Dallas County Promise program for those who can prove their residence in Dallas County.
The program runs for nine months and encompasses all the basics needed to take and pass a pharmacy technician certification exam set by the PTCB (the PTCE) or the National Health Career Association (the ExCPT) Some portions of the course, related to legal and regulatory considerations a pharmacy tech needs to be aware of can be completed online.
The Richland College/Dallas College Pharmacy technician Certification Program is approved by the PTCB and the school itself is accredited by the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities and a League for Innovation in the Community College award winner.
Asher College
9330 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway Suite 650 Dallas, TX 75243 | (972) 600-2818
Located just outside Dallas city center Asher College is a national career college that specializes in providing affordable vocational education for adults of all ages. Their Pharmacy Technician Certification Program is offered as a 'fast track' career program and can be completed in less than a year.
To be admitted to the program students must be legal US residents, over the age of 18 and hold a high school diploma or GED. They must also be able to pass criminal background and drug tests as required by the Texas Board of Pharmacy Licensing Division.
As is the case for many of the pharmacy technician schools in Dallas tuition for this program is based on a student's circumstances and varies according to those. The school does provide a net price estimator tool here. Federal and state financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Sample coursework:
- Medical terminology
- Pharmacy technology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical calculations
- Pharmacy law & ethics
- Microsoft office essentials
The course itself takes approximately nine months to complete and classes are offered in the day or evening.
The coursework covers everything likely to be addressed by either of the national pharmacy technician certification exams. Limited portions of the course can be completed online at home and for those interested an outside internship can be arranged by the school. The course is an approved PTCB training program.
Job roles you can apply for upon completion: pharmacy technician, medication technician, insurance representative, pharmacy assistant and central fill technician.
Global Health Education Network
1311 Marketplace Dr., Ste 180 Garland, TX | (972) 698-7792
The Global Health Education Network is a vocational training center headquartered in Garland, TX, a short drive from Dallas proper. Not a traditional college in the sense you may be used to this a training facility specifically designed to provide 'fast track' entrance into a number of lucrative employment fields, including that of pharmacy technician.
The center's program for Pharmacy Technician's is a 96 classroom hour overview - approximately 12 weeks - that covers the basics needed to pass the PTCE or ExCpt certification exam. It is a single fee program for which traditional financial aid is not available, but flexible payment plans are. In addition, some Dallas County residents may be able to claim a local government training grant to help cover some of their tuition costs for the program.
The entrance requirements for the program are minimal, students must be over the age of 18, legal US residents and hold a high school diploma or GED. Unlike some other schools Global Health does not mandate drug or criminal background checks for program candidates but does advise them that felonies and certain misdemeanors, as well as proven illegal drug use precludes candidates from taking the PTCE or gaining a license to work as a pharmacy technician from the Texas Board of Pharmacy.
The cost of the program is $999. This cost can be split into affordable payments provided that the cost is paid in full by graduation. Coursework is completed in on campus classroom and lab settings for most of the time with some limited topics and modules able to be completed online. The curriculum covers everything needed to pass the PTCE or ExCPT.
The Global Health Education Network Pharmacy Technician program is a PTCB and Texas Board of Pharmacy approved training program.
Tarrant County Community College
300 Trinity Campus Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76102 | (817) 515-8223
A traditional community college serving Tarrant County this college offers a comprehensive in person, hands on Pharmacy Technician Certification aimed at those who have an interest in working in clinical pharmacies.
The school serves a wide population of both recent high school graduates and working adults. As it is a traditional college to be admitted to any program - including this one - students must meet minimum academic standards, including both holding a high school diploma or GED and meeting a minimum GPA score. Pharmacy Technician students must also pass drug and criminal background checks.
Traditional Federal and State financial aid is available to those who qualify, as well as a limited number of state-based grants. The cost varies according to a student's personal circumstances and residence but interested parties can estimate it by making use of the net price calculator here.
The program is offered in 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 does add to the completion time frame as well as to the cost. The non-clinical program can be completed in 9 months, the clinically enhanced option takes about a year - breaking down as 232 versus 321 credit hours.
The program is an approved PTCB training program and is also approved by the Texas Board of Pharmacy.