How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Texas

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No matter what’s going on in the world, people will always need their medicine.

Unfortunately, getting a doctorate to become a pharmacist isn’t always an option for everyone.

That doesn’t mean there’s not a place for you behind the counter.

A pharmacy technician is a health care worker who works with a pharmacist to ensure all patients get what they need.

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Licensing Requirements to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Texas

In order to qualify as a pharmacy tech, you will need to be nationally certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or pass the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).

After getting certified, pharmacy techs are required to go through continuing education, as stipulated by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

5 Pharmacy Technician Schools in Texas

Before you head out to enroll, potential students need to have successfully completed high school or obtained a GED.

Additionally, no one can enter the program with felonies on their record.

1. University of Texas at Arlington

Located just outside of Dallas, UTA offers a four-month course twice a year.

Classes are in person on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 10 pm.University of Texas at Arlington

Upon graduation, students will know everything from dispensing medicine to assessing orders.

Also, a whole lot in between.

Passing leads to sitting for the certification exam.

To complete the course, students will also undergo an externship.

The cost of the program is $4,500 and includes textbooks, scrubs, and CPR certification.

The exam fee of $129 is separate from tuition.

2. University of Texas at San Antonio

University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA has a pharmacy tech course that can be taken online.

At the end of the course, students will need to complete an externship in order to pass successfully.

The school sets up the externship with a national chain partner.

From the time a student signs up, they have up to a year to finish.

Instructors include a certified pharmacy tech of over two decades and a pharmacist.

It costs $2,495 to get a pharmacy technician certificate from UTSA.

3. South Texas College

There are six locations across southern Texas where STC offers classes.

Students graduate from the program with an Associate of Applied Science degree.South Texas College

This is a two-year program that starts in the fall and continues through the spring and summer of the following year.

After that, another fall and spring semester before graduation.

Basically, five semesters in total.

Classes are in person and online.

This is a much deeper look at what it takes to be a pharmacy tech because another large component is pharmacy technology. Tuition is $14,258.

4. Vista College

Vista College

This six-semester program in San Antonio gives students practical experience mixed with a lengthy education specific to everything pharmaceutical.

Not only will a graduate be comfortable in a local pharmacy, but also one in a hospital.

Students will graduate with an associate’s degree in pharmacy technology.

Vista College’s program is accredited by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP).

From start to finish, this program costs around $10,300.

5. Navarro College

In Corsicana, Navarro College is looking to try something new for some of its certification programs.

They are trying to make it easier for prospective students in the community to get through the processes as quickly as possible.Navarro College

That way, it’s quicker to get started in a career.

So they came up with Fast Track Career programs.

Pharmacy tech certifications are meant to make the student comfortable with packaging, math applications, dosages, inventory, and the retail environment.

The tuition for the program is $2,750.

Pharmacy Technician Schools in Texas

Top 5 Schools in Texas

School NameAddress
University of Texas at Arlington701 S Nedderman Dr, Arlington, TX 76019
University of Texas at San Antonio1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249
South Texas College3201 Pecan Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501
Vista College6101 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79925
Navarro College3200 W 7th Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110

Pharmacy Technician Salary in Texas

In the state of Texas, the median salary for a pharmacy technician is $36,600.

Depending on where you live, the average pay may fluctuate.

Between location and experience, the pay range for pharmacy techs starts at $30,000 and goes up to $45,000.

Annual Salary Range:
$30K
$36K
$45K

Average Salary of Pharmacy Technicians in Texas

City NameSalary
Houston$38,200
Dallas$37,000
San Antonio$36,200
Austin$36,700
El Paso$32,600
Fort Worth$36,300
Arlington$36,300
Corpus Christi$35,000
Plano$36,900
Garland$36,900
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Texas

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Abilene, TX260$40,450$19.45$49,640$31,980
Amarillo, TX470$40,130$19.29$48,990$31,580
Austin-Round Rock, TX2,810$45,280$21.77$56,490$37,330
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX540$40,620$19.53$50,320$33,830
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX420$38,860$18.69$49,770$29,860
College Station-Bryan, TX430$41,420$19.92$49,920$33,790
Corpus Christi, TX560$41,630$20.01$52,410$33,800
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX11,860$43,060$20.7$51,650$34,630
El Paso, TX1,180$38,580$18.55$48,670$29,790
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX9,030$45,550$21.9$53,790$35,470
Killeen-Temple, TX500$44,270$21.28$55,310$33,680
Laredo, TX210$39,180$18.84$49,310$29,880
Longview, TX260$39,170$18.83$47,480$31,160
Lubbock, TX570$39,420$18.95$48,300$30,780
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX1,040$37,140$17.86$46,620$29,690
Midland, TX170$44,890$21.58$57,040$35,920
Odessa, TX180$42,810$20.58$56,110$35,180
San Angelo, TX140$40,680$19.56$50,300$31,500
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX3,170$44,430$21.36$54,970$36,330
Sherman-Denison, TX170$39,930$19.2$46,280$33,050
Texarkana, TX-AR180$38,860$18.69$47,970$30,750
Tyler, TX460$39,890$19.18$49,210$31,460
Victoria, TX140$40,830$19.63$47,580$31,870
Waco, TX280$42,180$20.28$55,780$31,730
Wichita Falls, TX220$40,270$19.36$52,690$30,540
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Pharmacy Technicians, OCC Code 29-2052, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a pharmacy technician do?

Typically, a pharmacy tech is the pharmacist’s right-hand person.

The technician is the person that is at the front counter when patients arrive.

A pharmacy tech should be computer savvy, as they will be using the system a lot to do things such as looking up prescriptions and entering info about the patient.

They are often the ones who reach out to a doctor’s office and make sure the patient has access to the pharmacist if they need it.

Should I be a pharmacy technician before becoming a pharmacist?

It can be quite beneficial for a pharmacy student to get familiar with life behind the counter before graduating.

Being a technician first will provide an experience that education can’t teach.

This will also be a way to have a leg up in the industry, so getting a job will be easier.

How do you move up the career ladder as a pharmacy technician?

After years of working as a tech in a pharmacy, the next step up would come with a managerial component.

A pharmacy technician could go on to be a department supervisor or become a clinical technician, which would take them out of the pharmacy.

It’s also a great way to segue into other healthcare positions.

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