Overview
Texas is a large state with a number of employment opportunities in the health care sector for a number of different specialists. The state also offers a long list of traditional, online, and distance learning schools through which you can complete a pharmacy technician program. Pharmacy technician programs in Texas, although many and varied, are not necessarily all ideal for each candidate. It is your responsibility to look into each of the options yourself and determine whether or not they are suitable for you at a personal as well as at a practical level. The school you choose now could affect the rest of your career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Pharmacy Technician Training In Texas
In Texas, as in most other states, there are no formal educational requirements for becoming a pharmacy technician. Historically, the skills required were learned on the job. However, expectations regarding the profession are changing considerably, and these days it is wise to complete a formal training program and seek certification. There are several reasons for this:
- Your resume will be more impressive and it will increase your chances of employment
- It is highly likely that in the near future formal training standards for pharmacy technicians in Texas will be put into place, so studying now will save you time later
- You will have advanced knowledge regarding your job, allowing you to work more effectively than individuals who have not sought formal training
In addition it is worth noting that many employers expect you to have formal education and certification. Although it is not a statewide standard, it is a standard in specific sectors of the pharmaceutical industry. This depends on your employer.
The pharmacy technician programs that are available in Texas vary in length from 6 months to 2 years. The longer the program, the more comprehensive your training is likely to be, and the more likely you are to find employment.
Seeking certification will make a substantial difference in terms of your chances of being employed. Certification can be gained through one of these two agencies:
- The Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ICPT)
- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
Pharmacy Technician Careers In Texas
In Texas, the cities with highest percentage of jobs relative to their populations are Amarillo, McAllen and Texarkana, while the cities with lowest percentage of jobs relative to their populations are Longview, Waco and Midland. The cities with the highest absolute number of jobs are Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. This state, like most others, expects to see a growth of 31% in the number of pharmacy technician jobs that will shortly become available. The specific duties that pharmacy technicians in Texas fulfill are as follows:
- Receive and fill prescription orders
- Ensure accurate pill count and labeling
- Match patients to the correct medications
- Keep stock and inventory of medications
In total there are three hundred and twenty-six thousand pharmacy technicians employed in the healthcare industry, of which twenty-seven thousand, eight-hundred and sixty are employed in Texas. This number is likely to continue increasing, not only in Texas, but across the entire country as the role becomes more specialized and valuable. Of the new jobs that we are likely to see, most will be in retail, while the rest are likely to be in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
List Of Pharmacy Technician Programs In Texas
Texas is one of the few states which offer a large number of different schools to choose from. In this state you will also be able to select from between classroom-based education, as well as online and distance education options.
Pharmacy Technician Programs in Texas:
- Kaplan College
- Remington College
- Sanford-Brown College
- Milan Institute
- Allied Health Careers
- Everest College
- Carrington College
- Brown Mackie College
Everest College
Arlington (Mid Cities)
Pharmacy Technician
Carrington College
Phoenix
Pharmacy Technology
Milan Institute
Amarillo
Pharmacy Technician
Allied Health Careers
Austin
Pharmacy Technician
Remington College
North Houston (Greenspoint)
Pharmacy Technician
Dallas (Garland)
Pharmacy Technician
Ft. Worth
Pharmacy Technician
Houston (Westchase)
Pharmacy Technician
Brown Mackie College
San Antonio
Pharmacy Technology (AS)
Online Schools
Keiser University eCampus Online
Associate of Arts in Health Services Administration
Correspondence Schools
Virginia College
Pharmacy Technician
National American University
Pharmacy Technician A.A.S
Ashworth College
When selecting a school, it is extremely important that you ensure that the school is in fact properly accredited. If it is not accredited you may find that potential employers lose interest in your application. In addition, the school should suit your personal needs so that you are happy while studying there.
Salary
As different cities in Texas offer different rates of pay to their pharmacy technicians, it is interesting to note where your pharmacy technician training will get you:
- In Abilene you can earn $35,037 a year
- In Laredo you can earn $34,910 a year
- In Amarillo you can earn $35,741 a year
- In Lewisville you can earn $38,856 a year
- In Arlington you can earn $35,442 a year
- In Longview you can earn $35,776 a year
- In Austin you can earn $38,631 a year
- In Lubbock you can earn $34,784 a year
- In Azle you can earn $35,442 a year
- In Marshall you can earn $33,350 a year
- In Beaumont you can earn $35,324 a year
- In McAllen you can earn $33,918 a year
- In Brazoria you can earn $36,925 a year
- In Mission you can earn $33,918 a year
- In Brownsville you can earn $32,637 a year
- In Odessa you can earn $38,535 a year
- In Bryan you can earn $34,298 a year
- In Plano you can earn $38,856 a year
- In College Station you can earn $34,298 a year
- In Port Arthur you can earn $35,324 a year
- In Coppell you can earn $38,856 a year
- In San Angelo you can earn $33,587 a year
- In Corpus Christi you can earn $33,324 a year
- In San Antonio you can earn $35,363 a year
- In Dallas you can earn $38,856 a year
- In San Benito you can earn $32,637 a year
- In Denison you can earn $32,876 a year
- In San Marcos you can earn $38,631 a year
- In Denton you can earn $38,856 a year
- In Sherman you can earn $32,876 a year
- In Edinburg you can earn $33,918 a year
- In Temple you can earn $34,393 a year
- In El Paso you can earn $33,401 a year
- In Texarkana you can earn $34,491 a year
- In Fort Worth you can earn $35,442 a year
- In Texas City you can earn $36,550 a year
- In Frisco you can earn $38,856 a year
- In The Woodlands you can earn $36,550 a year
- In Galveston you can earn $36,550 a year
- In Tyler you can earn $31,812 a year
- In Harlingen you can earn $32,637 a year
- In Victoria you can earn $34,829 a year
- In Houston you can earn $36,550 a year
- In Waco you can earn $34,962 a year
- In Irving you can earn $38,856 a year
- In Wichita Falls you can earn $33,465 a year
- In Killeen you can earn $34,393 a year
Perhaps you may have noticed that, because there are a large number of educational opportunities as well as a large number of employment opportunities in this state, the salary that you stand a chance of earning in most of its cities is very good. Texas is a large state, and there are a corresponding number of jobs available for individuals who are interested in entering the medical industry by becoming pharmacy technicians. In Texas a large proportion of pharmacy technicians go on to become pharmacists through additional study, a job that comes with even higher rates of pay, as well as higher professional prestige. Pharmacy technicians are becoming more and more skilled as expectations regarding the profession have changed considerably. Consequently, they are also becoming more and more valuable to their employers and many pharmacists describe their pharmacy technicians as being indispensible. The primary motivation why prospective students look into pharmacy technician programs in Texas is that they see it as a way to get their foot in the door of an industry that is safe, and in which they can be guaranteed of employment throughout their lives.