The Pharmacy Technician course is a 30 semester-credit hour certificate program. Day program begins in August each year and night program begins in January (night program is always tentative based upon enrollment). Students graduate with a Certificate of Completion. The Pharmacy Technician Program at Vernon College, Wichita Falls, Texas is accredited by the ASHP/ACPE, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 7272 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814; Tel: (301) 657-3000).
The Pharmacy Technician Certificate program is designed to prepare students for a career as certified technical assistants of licensed pharmacists in providing health care and medications to patients in institutional (hospital) and community (retail) settings. Students develop skills in the techniques required to order, stock, package, type labels, prepare medications, operate computerized dispensing systems, prepare insurance claim forms, and maintain written or computerized patient medication records. Pharmacy technicians assist and support licensed pharmacists in providing health care and medications to patients.
The Pharmacy Certificate program prepares individuals to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Upon successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). To practice as a pharmacy technician in the state of Texas, an individual must be a Certified Pharmacy Technician and become registered with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
