Texas Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

If you are interested in a career as a pharmacy technician, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy encourages individuals to enroll in a pharmacy technician training program. A training program can help you meet the state’s registration requirements and it is the best way to prepare for a successful career in this industry. Keep in mind that you will have to pass the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and most employers prefer a certificate or an associate degree. However, according to the Board, “currently, there is not a requirement for a pharmacy technician/trainee to attend a formal education program.” The following are registration requirements for pharmacy technicians:

Individuals who are not registered with the Board may not be employed as or perform the duties of a pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician trainee.

Initial registration for pharmacy technicians:

  (1) Each applicant for pharmacy technician registration shall:

    (A) have a high school or equivalent diploma (e.g., GED), or be working to achieve a high school or equivalent diploma. For the purpose of this clause, an applicant for registration may be working to achieve a high school or equivalent diploma for no more than two years; and

    (B) either have:

      (i) taken and passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board's National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination or other examination approved by the board and have a current certification certificate; or

      (ii) been granted an exemption from certification by the board as specified in §297.7 of this title (relating to Exemption from Pharmacy Technician Certification Requirements); and

    (C) complete the Texas application for registration

    (D) meet all requirements necessary in order for the Board to access the criminal history record information, including submitting fingerprint information and paying the required fees; and

    (E) pay the registration fee

  (2) Once an applicant has successfully completed all requirements of registration, and the board has determined there are no grounds to refuse registration, the applicant will be notified of registration as a registered pharmacy technician and of his or her pharmacy technician registration number.

Fortunately, dozens of Texas schools offer excellent training programs that can help you satisfy the state’s requirements and start your career. The following lists represent only a fraction of what Texas has to offer.

Texas Schools with Pharmacy Technician Training Programs:

Pharmacy Technician Programs - Major Texas Colleges and Universities 

• Medical Education and Training Campus - Ft. Sam Houston
• South Texas College - McAllen
• State Technical College - Waco
• Texas A & M International  University - Laredo
• Texas Southern University - Houston
• Texas Tech University - Lubbock
• University of Texas - Austin
• University of Texas - El Paso
• University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston
• West Texas A & M University - Canyon

Pharmacy Technician Programs – Other Texas Colleges 

• Amarillo College - Amarillo
• Austin Community College - Austin
• Cisco Junior College - Abilene
• Coleman College of Health Sciences - Houston
• College of the Mainland – Texas City
• Dallas County Community College - Dallas
• El Paso Community College - El Paso
• Milan Institute - Amarillo
• Richland College (Dallas County Community College District) – Dallas, Garland
• Southern Careers Institute - Corpus Christi (Main Campus), San Antonio Austin
• St. Philips College – San Antonio
• Virginia College - Austin
• Western Texas College - Snyder