Pharmacy Technology

Pharmacy technicians are paraprofessionals who work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist to assist with activities that do not require the professional judgment of the pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians assist with maintaining records, filling and dispensing routine prescriptions and medication orders, stocking supplies of patient care areas, maintaining inventories of drug supplies, preparing sterile compound products, accepting prescriptions and refill requests, and providing assistance to the customers and patients specific to the pharmacy practice setting. Exciting careers are available in tracitional pharmacy settings, such as retail and hospital pharmacies, and non-traditional pharmacy settings, such as compounding and nuclear pharmacies.

The pharmacy technology certificate program is a two-semester cohort program that provides and excellent introduction to the pharmacy profession. Recruitment for the Fall class begins in the month of April. Students typically begin the two-semester daytime program in August (Fall). Because of the demand for the program, students starting in the Spring will be in the evening program that runs for 12 months (January through December). Recruitment for the January class (Spring) begins in the month of November. Beginning Fall 2005, the pharmacy technology program at Lone Star College-North Harris also offers an Associate Degree in Pharmacy Technology. Students interested in ultimately becoming pharmacists can benefit from the knowledge gained in the classroom and internship experiences. Program credit hours will not transfer into a professional sequence for pharmacy school.

The pharmacy technology certificate program prepares graduates to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, to become a certified pharmacy tecchnician (CPhT). As of January 1, 2001, pharmacy technicians in the State of Texas were required to be certified. The Texas State Board of Pharmacy also requires certified pharmacy technicians to register with the board as of June 2004. Those technicians not certified are restricted on duties and must be certified by examination within the year allotted.