Pharmacy Tech

Pharmacy technicians work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and perform many pharmacy-related functions. They refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist. They provide customer service and fill prescriptions, compound medications, computer information, management operations as well as many other tasks in the pharmacy.

“An individual who is registered with the Board as a pharmacy technician and whose responsibility in a pharmacy is to provide technical services … regarding preparing and distributing drugs and who works under the direct supervision of and is responsible to a pharmacist.” -- Texas State Board of Pharmacy

Register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee

Requires Additional Criminal Background Check

• Mandatory Fingerprinting Process
• MUST have a valid Social Security Number
• Trainee registration is currently good for a maximum of 2 years (non-renewable)

Pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE)

• May use designation CPhT once completed
• 20 hours, ACPE accredited, technician-specific CE every 2 years

• Community retail pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Independent Pharmacies)
• Hospital pharmacies – in-patient and out-patient
• Long term care facilities
• Infusion and hospice
• Compounding pharmacies
• Correctional facilities
• Education and training institutions

• Aging population
• Increased demand for medical services
• More pharmacies
• Longer pharmacy hours (24 hour pharmacies)

• Pharmacy Technician roles are expanding
• Employers are demanding more-qualified, better-trained applicants for pharmacy technician jobs
• Expectations are that pharmacy technicians will soon be required by TSBP to have completed an accredited program which includes
  • Classroom learning
  • Simulation
  • Workplace experience

• Prepare medications for dispensing
  • Fill prescriptions
  • Compound creams, ointments, suppositories
  • Prepare IV admixtures
• Pharmacy administration
• Prepare medications for dispensing
  • Management Operations, Patient (Customer) Services, work as a member of the health care team
• Office tasks
  • Filing, Phones, Forms, etc
• Computer systems
  • Patient Profile Building, Prescription Entry, Insurance Adjudication, Clinical Data Research

• Purpose: to prepare students for eligibility to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and become a Registered Pharmacy Technician in the State of Texas.
• 2 semesters of study including Clinical rotations at various types of Pharmacies
  • 27 total credit hours
  • 10 courses
  • Over 1000 hours of instruction and experience
  • Level One Certificate
  • IV Certification (Sterile Compounding and Aseptic Technique)
• AAS Degree option - Certificate program + 33 credit hours of general education courses
• Pharmacy Technician Program Director & Faculty assist with the following:
  • Instructions to meet state and national accreditation guidelines
  • Clinical rotation selection
  • Student Records
• All students enter in a cohort in the Fall session
• Both fall and spring sessions must be attended
• Withdrawal from the cohort requires readmission to the program with special permission from the Director and Dean
• Must be full time students at TVCC

You MUST complete all semester one courses prior to registering for semester two courses.

• High School Diploma or GED (High School Seniors make an appt with Director for information on how to participate in the cohort as a dual credit student)
• Must take TSI test
• Apply for admission to TVCC (admission to TVCC does not guarantee admission into the Pharmacy Tech Program)
• Although not required for selection to the program, immunizations and health requirements, negative drug screen and clear criminal background check are required before being cleared to start clinical rotations. 
• There are not pre-requisites for the pharmacy technician program but points are awarded for being TSI complete in reading and grammar, completion of NURA 1307 (or 1407), MDCA 1313, and grades of A or B in BIOL 2401 and/or BIOL 2402.  

• Completed Application
• Completed TSI test (scores used for competency verification
• Selection by point system - see current Health Occupations brochure for current listing including personal interview

• Tuition and Supplies, Including Books: see TVCC catalog or website
• Immunizations, criminal history background check & drug testing
• Scrubs (these are specific, please do not buy until Orientation)
• PTCB Exam Fee
• Enrollment in record storing system (Castle Branch – the cost is approximately $72.00)

For additional information please contact us