Pharmacy Technician Programs in Temple, TX

Pharmacy technicians are health care providers who work under a licensed pharmacist doing many pharmacy-related tasks. As a pharmacy technician you will dispense prescription medication and medical devices, perform administrative duties, assist with inventory control and maintain client records.

The certification, training, and licensing of a pharmacy technician differs from one state to the next in the US. In Texas, the average hourly wage for a pharmacy technician is $18.44 or $38,360 annually. In Texas alone, there are over 35,000 employed pharmacy technicians. The state has seen a growth rate of about 14.66% over the past few years.

Pharmacy technicians can work in a variety of settings, which include pharmacies in hospitals, community centers, mail order pharmacies or in retail settings, such as CVS, Walgreens and local grocery stores, long-term care facilities and many others.

In the United States, there isn't a regulatory agency nationally that oversees pharmacy technician requirements. This is down to each state. Normally, a high school diploma or equivalent training will be required. There are some states that require you to be trained by a board-approved school, have a national certification, and/or hands-on training. Some states will have no other requirements, so it is important that you check your state's requirements.

Nationally, you may become nationally certified by sitting the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam (PTCB) or the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT. In the state of Texas, only a license is required (with some exceptions).

Find out more about Texas Pharmacy Technician Programs. 

Temple College Continuing Education

Program: Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Address: Business and Continuing Education, Berry Hall, Temple College, 2600 S. First St. Temple TX 76504
Phone: 254-298-8625
Website

Program graduates of the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program offered by Temple College are taught the knowledge and skills they need to test the PTCB or NHA and apply for entry level jobs in hospital or retail pharmacies.  This course combines 200 hours of classroom instruction and 120 hours at an off-site externship for a comprehensive learning experience totaling 320 hours.

To be admitted you must have either a high school diploma, GED, or High School Equivalency Certificate, be at least 18 years old and be willing to have a criminal history background check, a drug screening test along with up-to-date immunizations.

The program is offered once annually, and is limited to a class size of 25 students. Classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm.

Tuition fees are $2,495, which includes a PTCB exam voucher and textbooks. You can apply for financial aid of 50% of your tuition fees. Two scholarships are available for students who are eligible: AEL (Adult Education and Literacy) and DYD (Direct Your Destiny). You may be eligible for a student loan via the SallieMae Smart Option Student Loan program. 

Central Texas College Adult Education 

Program: Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Address: 6200 West Central Texas Expressway, Killeen, TX 76549
Phone: 254-526-1296
Website

Step into a career in pharmacy technology with a certificate program offered by Central Texas College. This is a 200-hour classroom training course.  All classes take place on the Killeen central campus on weekdays in the afternoons or evenings. Graduates are well suited to sit for the PTCB or the NHA and apply for entry level jobs as pharmacy technicians. 

Adult students must have basic computer skill competency, a high school diploma/transcript, G.E.D, or official transcripts of higher education and two references, which cannot be from relatives. To graduate students must achieve a 80% pass rate.

Tuition fees are $3,244 (including certificate of completion and supplies). You can apply for a student loan through Sallie Mae on your own or with the parent-initiated student loan option. You may also use MyCAA benefits if you qualify.

The program offers an institutional pharmacy setting for students to become familiar with the many roles and aspects of working as a pharmacy technician. This includes learning about personnel and workflow, labeling and packaging of medications and devices, inventory control, data entry, safety techniques, and drug distribution systems. This optional clinical experience provides 50 credit hours at an additional cost of $649.

Baylor University (Online)

Program: Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Address: Pat Neff Hall, Suite 304, 1320 South 7th Street, Waco, TX 76706
Phone: (254) 710-6440
Website

This course teaches the state and federal laws that govern pharmacies and the ethics in pharmacy practice. It is 400-course hours and done online. Upon completion, you will be prepared to take the PTCB exam and apply for entry-level jobs as a pharmacy technician.

You will also be eligible to apply for 100 plus hours of externship with a national pharmacy. You can work at your own pace and the course can be completed in one year or less.

This course has no prerequisites, however, if you are taking on the externship, you are required to be 18 years old or more and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. The course is done completely online, so you will need to have a computer and internet access.

Students will study pharmacy law and ethics, pharmaceutical calculations, lab modules, insurance and inventory procedures, orientation to pharmacy and communication skills.

The course costs $2,495 and includes all materials needed to complete the course.

There is an ed2go Financing Option for students who wish to make smaller payments over a longer time frame (12 months). The entire cost of the course and materials are included in the overall cost.  

If you are an eligible military member, veteran, or dependent, you may qualify for one of the Armed Forces programs. Active duty and drilling members can qualify for up to $4,500 in assistance. Each program will have its own criteria for qualifying so be sure to check the Military Information page.

Blinn College

Program: Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online or On Campus (Bryan, TX)
Address: Bryan Campus, 2423 Blinn Boulevard, Bryan, TX 77802
Phone: 979-209-7205
Website

The Pharmacy Technician Program is a 160-hour course with options for online, day, or night courses and trains students to begin a career as a pharmacy technician in just 12 weeks.

Classes include pharmacology, pharmacy law and regulations, sterile and non-sterile compounding, medical safety, quality assurance, medication order entry, inventory management, billing, and information services.

The course is taught by healthcare professionals and licensed pharmacists. Upon completion, students will be prepared for the national PTCB exam. Blinn offers open admission and courses are based on first-come, first-served. 

After they pass the national exam, students can obtain their state licensure from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

Tuition fees are $1,450. You may be eligible for FAFSA student aid. You can find out about all available options on the Student Aid page of the website.  You may also qualify for the Duddleston Scholarship Program.

Upon graduation, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to enter the workforce immediately after completion.