Pharmacy
Pharmacy Technician Program Information
TVCC’s pharmacy technician program offers a cooperative arrangement with area hospitals, retail and mail order, and long-term care pharmacies. Students will learn how to prepare medications, prepare non-sterile compounded products as well as sterile compounded products, provide customer service, maintain patient profiles, assist the pharmacist with medication therapy management, and facilitate insurance claims. The program is designed to provide understanding, proficiency, and specific skills in the field of pharmacy technology.
There is a selection process for this program. It is the student’s responsibility to read the current health occupations brochure or contact an advisor regarding the current process. The deadline for completing all pre-admission testing requirements and submitting the online application is June 1.
The pharmacy technician program conducted by Trinity Valley Community College, Athens & Terrell HSC, Texas is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Students must register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy as an active pharmacy technician-trainee after admission into the program.
Upon completion of all courses in the program, students will be eligible to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination which is administered by the Pharmacy Technicians Certification Board (PTCB). Students enrolled in the program will also become certified in the preparation of intravenous admixtures.
The program curriculum is a balance of approved didactic, simulated lab, and practicum/clinical courses which offer the student an opportunity for educational development as well as occupational competence during the program. The program is offered in a hybrid format with didactic portions online and lab/clinical experiences face-to-face.
Note: Criminal history may disqualify individuals from obtaining or maintaining pharmacy technician certifications.
While applicants with a criminal history are not disqualified from taking the certifying exam, a candidate may be disqualified for PTCB Certification upon the disclosure or discovery of:
- Criminal conduct involving the candidate;
- State Board of Pharmacy registration or licensure action involving the candidate;
- Violation of a PTCB Certification Policy, including but not limited to, the Code of Conduct (available on PTCB website).
PTCB reserves the right to investigate criminal background, verify candidate eligibility, and deny certification to any individual. Once certified, PTCB CPhTs must report the following to the PTCB for review: any felony conviction, drug or pharmacy-related violations, or State Board of Pharmacy action taken against their license or registration at the occurrence and at the time of recertification.
PHRA-1201. Introduction to Pharmacy. (2 Credits)
(2-2-1) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An overview of the qualifications, operational guidelines, and job duties of a pharmacy technician. Lab fee.
PHRA-1202. Pharmacy Law. (2 Credits)
(2-2-1) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Overview of federal and state laws governing the practice of pharmacy. The role of the pharmacy technician and the pharmacist and their associated responsibilities. Includes Code of Ethics, patient confidentiality, and a comparison of legal and ethical aspects. Lab fee.
PHRA-1243. Pharmacy Technician Certification Review. (2 Credits)
(2-2-1) This course is taken for academic credit. (Prerequisite: PHRA 1202, 1201, 1205, 1309, 1313, 1349) Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A review of major topics covered on the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE). Lab fee $193 includes skills lab fee, practice certification exam and national certification fee.
PHRA-1305. Drug Classification. (3 Credits)
This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of pharmaceutical drugs, abbreviations, classifications, dosages, side effects, and routes of administration. Lab fee.
PHRA-1309. Pharmaceutical Mathematics I. (3 Credits)
(3-2-2) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Solving pharmaceutical calculation problems encountered in the preparation and distribution of drugs. Lab fee.
PHRA-1313. Community Pharmacy Practice. (3 Credits)
(3-2-4) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Introduction to the skills necessary to process, prepare, label, and maintain records of prescriptions in a community pharmacy to include customer service, count and pour techniques, prescription calculations, drug selection and preparation, over-the-counter drugs, inventory management and legal parameters. Lab fee $74 includes skills lab fee and drug screening. Fee is subject to change.
PHRA-1345. Compounding Sterile Preparations. (3 Credits)
(3-1-7) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. The process of compounding sterile preparations and aseptic technique within legal and regulatory guidelines specified by USP <797> standards. Lab fee $170 includes skills lab fee and sterile compounding fee.
PHRA-1349. Institutional Pharmacy Practice. (3 Credits)
(3-2-4) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Fundamentals of the diverse roles and practice of pharmacy technicians in an institutional pharmacy setting. In-depth coverage of hospital pharmacy organization, work flow and personnel, safety techniques, data entry, packaging and labeling operations, inpatient drug distribution systems including investigational drugs, continuous quality improvement and inventory control. Lab fee.
PHRA-1360. Clinical, Pharmacy Technician/Assistant. (3 Credits)
(3-0-0-18) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional. Lab fee $48 includes professional liability insurance.
PHRA-1441. Pharmacy Drug Therapy and Treatment. (4 Credits)
(4-3-2) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Study of therapeutic agents, their classifications, properties, actions, and effects on the human body and their role in the management of disease. Lab fee.
A grade of 75 or better is required in all PHRA courses in order to remain in the program.
What Pharmacy Technicians Do
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals.
SUMMARY
- 2023 Median Pay: $40,300 per year; $19.37 per hour
- Typical Entry-Level Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Number of Jobs, 2023: 459,600
- Job Outlook, 2022-32: 6% (Faster average)
- Employment Change, 2022-32: 25,900
Work Environment
Pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies, including those found in drug, general merchandise, and grocery stores, and in hospitals. Most work full-time, but many work part-time.
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians usually need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn their duties through on-the-job training, or they may complete a postsecondary education program in pharmacy technology. Most states regulate pharmacy technicians, which is a process that may require passing an exam or completing a formal education or training program.
Pay
The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $40,300 in May 2023.
Job Outlook
Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for pharmacy technicians.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of pharmacy technicians with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about pharmacy technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
SUGGESTED CITATION:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacy Technicians,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm (visited July 26, 2024).
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Some careers in this field will require a bachelor's degree.
- TVCC's AA degrees are fully transferable to public universities in Texas. See an academic advisor or TVCC's university transfer webpage for more information on this transfer opportunity.
- Many of TVCC's AAS degrees lead to an online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree with participating universities. See an academic advisor or the BAAS transfer website for more information on this transfer opportunity.