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Receiving your pharmacy technician certification in Texas is an excellent way to enter the healthcare field because you can make a meaningful impact on patient care. Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists in dispensing medications, managing inventory, and providing essential support in pharmacies, hospitals, and various other healthcare settings.
In the state of Texas, becoming a pharmacy technician requires certification, licensure, and adherence to state regulations. If you are wondering how to become a pharmacy technician in Texas, consider this article your ultimate guide. Together we’ll explore the role and responsibilities of a pharmacy technician, why Texas is the ideal place to launch your new career, and guide you through each step required to earn your certification.
So, let’s get to work.
Key Takeaways
- Pharmacy Technician Roles & Responsibilities: A pharmacy technician supports pharmacists and does a variety of tasks to ensure the smooth operation of pharmacies.
- Eligibility for Certification: To become a pharmacy technician in Texas, you must be at least 18, possess a high school diploma or GED, and pass a background check.
- Training Programs: Pharmacy technician programs like CALRegional offer hands-on training, including externships, and prepare you for the national certification exam.
- Certification Process: After completing the program, pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam to earn your CPhT credential and apply for state licensure through the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
- Job Opportunities: Certified pharmacy technicians in Texas can work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and specialty pharmacies.
- Career Growth: With increasing demand and competitive salaries, pharmacy technicians in Texas can pursue various career paths, including pharmacy manager or pharmaceutical sales representative.
- Continuing Education: To maintain certification, Texas pharmacy technicians must complete continuing education and stay current with state laws and regulations.
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What is a Pharmacy Technician?
If you’ve ever needed to pick up your medication from a pharmacy, you’ve met a pharmacy technician before. Pharmacy technicians are trained healthcare professionals who work directly under a licensed pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for a variety of tasks that support the pharmacist in delivering high-quality care.
Key Responsibilities
- Assisting with Medication Preparation: Pharmacy technicians help prepare and dispense prescribed medications, including counting pills, labeling bottles, and measuring liquid medications.
- Managing Inventory: They assist in monitoring and ordering pharmacy supplies, ensuring medications and other products are stocked and organized.
- Customer Service: Pharmacy technicians interact with patients, answering questions about prescription medications, over-the-counter products, and general health concerns.
- Processing Prescriptions: They input prescription orders into the pharmacy system, verify patient information, and ensure that prescriptions are accurate and complete.
- Compounding Medications: In some settings, pharmacy technicians may prepare customized medications that require special formulations.
- Ensuring Compliance: They ensure that all medications are stored according to safety standards, and follow all regulations regarding medication dispensing and handling.
- Administrative Duties: Pharmacy technicians often handle clerical tasks such as updating patient records, managing insurance claims, and processing payment information.
- Supporting Pharmacists: They assist pharmacists with drug therapy management, monitoring patient progress, and providing necessary support for clinical services.
- Managing Prescription Transfers: They facilitate prescription transfers between pharmacies when necessary, ensuring the process is accurate and seamless.
- Maintaining a Clean and Safe Workspace: Ensuring the pharmacy environment is sanitary and meets health and safety standards is another key responsibility.
Thus, it’s safe to say pharmacy technicians play an important role in the efficient operation of a pharmacy and patient care. With the increasing demand for skilled pharmacy techs in Texas, obtaining your certification can open the door to a career in the healthcare industry.
Why Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Texas is an Excellent Career Choice
Becoming a pharmacy technician not only offers a rewarding career with a mix of hands-on work and patient interaction, but it’s also a job in high demand with opportunities to advance in the healthcare field.
With relatively short training periods (more on that later), flexible working hours, and job security, pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician is an attractive option for those interested in the healthcare field without the need for extensive schooling. Let’s dive a little deeper into what awaits the aspiring pharmacy tech.
Growing Demand in Texas
A study done by the Texas Workforce Commission suggests that employment for pharmacy technicians will increase by 24% by the year 2030, adding over 8,000 new positions.
Competitive Income
As the demand for Pharmacy Technicians rises in Texas, so does their earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary of pharmacy technicians is $40,300.
Substantial Career Advancement
For many of CALRegional’s students, earning their pharmacy technician certification in Texas paves the way for a number of career advancements in the healthcare field such as:
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Technician Supervisor
- Pharmacy Manager
- Clinical Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
- Pharmacy Informatics Specialist
- Compounding Pharmacy Technician
- Insurance Verification or Billing Specialist
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
- Pharmacy Educator
- Regulatory or Compliance Officer
These jobs highlight the many different career paths that pharmacy technician school can take you, depending on your interests, further education, and additional certifications.
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Pharmacy Tech Requirements to Earn Your Certification in Texas
Now that we’ve discovered what pharmacy techs do and their potential career paths, it’s time to break down your steps toward becoming a certified pharmacy technician.
Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Requirements
Before enrolling in a pharmacy technician school or training program like CALRegional, you must meet the eligibility requirements set by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP). To apply for pharmacy technician certification in Texas, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
- No felony/certain misdemeanor convictions on record.
Step 2: Enroll in a Pharmacy Technician Program
To become a certified pharmacy technician, you need proper training from a reputable program. Programs like CALRegional’s Pharmacy Technician Program provide hands-on experience and prepare students for their national certification exams.
What CALRegional Offers
CALRegional offers a 9 to 12-week pharmacy technician program, providing students with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to pass their national exam. Unlike our competitors, the Pharmacy Technician Program at CALRegional covers every facet of pharmacy including retail, hospital, closed-door, and sterile compounding environments. No previous medical experience is required.
What to Expect in the Program
The Pharmacy Technician Program is a hybrid program consisting of 182 hours of classroom instruction (50% online & instructor-led lectures and 50% labs). Students also receive their CPR certification and a guaranteed 120-hour externship. CALRegional students have a 90% program passing rate, over 26% more than our competitors.
Skills you will learn include:
- Hands-on skills such as compounding and preparing IVs using the aseptic technique.
- Receive, identify, and fill prescriptions with prepared labels.
- Comprehend drug classifications and drug interactions.
- Properly establishing and maintaining patient records.
- Billing, insurance, and inventory management.
- Dosage calculations and medical math.
Upon graduation, our students are prepared to take and pass the national exam for Pharmacy Technician Certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
For detail-oriented individuals who work well with data and prefer working directly with their patients, this fast-track option to your pharmacy technician certification in Texas may be the right choice for you.
Step 3: Complete Your Externship
The Pharmacy Technician Program includes placement into a 120-hour externship at the end of the course. This externship is guaranteed, meaning students do not have to worry about finding an externship on their own. While a clinical externship is not required by the state to obtain certification, this extra experience helps our students get their foot in the door faster because they are job-ready.
Step 4: Earn Your Pharmacy Technician Certification in Texas
Once students successfully pass the pharmacy technician class & externship and receive a certificate of completion, students are ready to take the national exam. Tuition for our program includes the national exam through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
By passing the exam, students prove their competency as a pharmacy technician and are granted the CPhT (Certified Pharmacy Technician) credential.
Step 5: Apply for State Licensure through the Texas State Board of Pharmacy
After completing the national certification exam, students must pass a criminal background check and apply for licensure through the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. Once your criminal background check clears and your application is approved, you are officially registered to practice as a pharmacy technician in the state of Texas.
Step 6: Renew Your Registration Every Two Years
Becoming a pharmacy technician isn’t a one-time process; you must maintain your certification through continuing education (CE). The Texas State Board of Pharmacy requires:
- 20 hours of continuing education every two years.
- 1 hour focused on Texas pharmacy laws and rules.
- Training in human trafficking prevention.
These CE requirements make sure that Texas-based pharmacy technicians stay current on industry changes, and best practices, and remain competent in their positions.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified Pharmacy Technician in Texas?
The time it takes to become certified depends on the training program you choose and the certification process:
- Training Programs: Most pharmacy technician programs last between a few months to 1 year. CALRegional’s Pharmacy Technician Program can get you certified in as little as 9 weeks.
- Exam Preparation & Testing: Studying for and taking the national exam may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
- State Registration: Approval from the TSBP can take several weeks.
In total, you can become a certified pharmacy technician in Texas in around 3-6 months.
Where Can Pharmacy Technicians Work in Texas?
After becoming a licensed pharmacy technician in Texas, you can work in various healthcare settings, including:
- Retail Pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, etc.)
- Hospitals and Clinics
- Long-Term Care Facilities
- Mail-Order Pharmacies
- Specialty Pharmacies
How to Apply for a Pharmacy Technician Position
Finally, once certified, the last step is to apply for pharmacy technician jobs in Texas. Employers often look for:
- National certification
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Experience in a pharmacy technician school or training program
CALRegional students get their foot in the door faster because of the hands-on experience gained through the course and the externship.
Websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn frequently list pharmacy technician job openings. Additionally, local pharmacies and hospitals make a good choice for new pharmacy techs looking for their first job.
Conclusion: Earn Your Pharmacy Technician Certification in Texas with CALRegional
If you’re ready to take the next step in enrolling in a pharmacy technician program in San Antonio, consider joining the CALRegional family. With comprehensive training, experienced instructors, and a fast-track certification path, CALRegional provides the perfect foundation for a successful career in healthcare.
Ready to get started? Don’t wait! Sign up for an online info session to learn more about our program before classes fill up!