Pharmacy Technician Schools in Texas

The duties of a pharmacy technician in the state of Texas range from locating, dispensing, and labeling medication for patients to helping with administrative duties like inventory tracking and paperwork. Individuals who would like to enter this profession have to dedicate the necessary time to become familiar with all of the major responsibilities, while also setting themselves up for career opportunities through certification and professional networking.

The guide below aims to introduce readers to all of these considerations and explain how to proceed through each step to achieve a favorable outcome.

Readers will also understand possible training destinations they can leverage for job placement, and possible annual average salary returns they can look forward to once they secure employment.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Texas

Below are the considerations involved in launching a successful pharmacy technician career in Texas.

Preparing for Training

To prepare for official training as a prospective pharmacy technician in Texas, candidates may work on fundamental attributes like planning and organization, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.

Enrolling for Training

Pharmacy technician training programs in Texas usually take 2 years to complete. Some candidates may want to complete their education faster, in which case several institutions offer certificate programs that can be completed in just a year.

After spending time in an academic program, pharmacy technicians are also expected to attain practical experience, usually by working as interns or assistants. Those who are participating in an online program may have the option to participate in an externship program simultaneously.

Certification

Certification provides fresh pharmacy technicians with a vital layer of credibility, given their lack of significant experience on the job. Naturally, candidates must pass a professional examination to become certified.

We analyze specific certification requirements for pharmacy technicians in Texas further in the next section.

Specializing

Pharmacy technicians may specialize in a particular focus area to improve their career prospects. Some popular options include central pharmacy operations technicians, general pharmacy technicians, laboratory pharmacy technicians, and community pharmacy technicians.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• How to become a medical biller and coder in Texas

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the National Healthcareer Association are two of the most popular credentialing organizations for pharmacy technicians nationwide. Individuals in Texas typically opt to become certified by either of these organizations before pursuing a license from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

Each organization has its professional exams, which applicants must pass before they can become certified. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board expects candidates pursuing certification to have graduated from a training program or accrued work experience before they can qualify.

Candidates have to complete a recognized program to obtain the National Healthcareer Association credential.

Top Pharmacy Technician Schools in Texas

All of the schools below have excellent programs for future pharmacy technicians in the state of Texas.

Explore pharmacy technician schools in Texas by city:

• Pharmacy technician schools in Houston

Salary & Career Outlook

In Texas, pharmacy technicians at the beginning of their careers can earn an annual average salary of $36,257 if they are lucky enough to begin their careers in the median-earning category, or an annual average salary of $26,786 if they have to begin in the bottom 10% category. The median category is where the majority falls.

As they proceed on the job, those who improve their expertise through experience and work on other relevant factors like establishment of employment, professional credentials, and location, can improve their earnings to be among the top 10%.

In this category, the annual average salary to expect is $49,078.

Regarding location, pharmacy technicians in Austin earn the highest annual average salary in Texas, $40,831. Those who work in Plano and Fort Worth are second and third, with annual average salaries of $38,587 and $38,010, respectively.