Program Description: This certificate program consists of 288 contact hours of lecture, lab and internship training for students to become Community Pharmacy Technicians in a retail pharmacy environment. Instruction emphasizes the practical application of pharmacy mathematics, pharmaceutical terminology, drug packaging and labeling, dosage preparation, inventory systems and management, and customer service. Upon successful completion of the Community Pharmacy Technician Program, students will receive a certificate of completion including competencies from each course within the curriculum.
Acceptance to the Pharmacy Tech Program at NTCC is based on the following criteria:
The Application Process:
A. All prospective students for the Pharmacy Technician Program should contact the Continuing Education office at 903-434-8350 to set an appointment for more information. After submitting this application, you will be required to submit the following:
- Proof of age (Driver’s license, or copy of birth certificate)
- Proof of high school graduation, GED, or high school senior (current transcript) or unofficial college transcripts showing credit college course work completed within the United States.
All applicants must complete Pharmacy Technician Trainee registration application at www.pharmacy.texas.gov/techtrainee.asp, including finger printing before being allowed to begin clinical.
The Externship Process: Students must have submitted all required documentation prior to register externship registration. Required documents include: TB test results and immunizations prior to registering for the clinical experience. Some clinical sites also require current BLS (CPR for Health Professionals) certification. Students may be required to attend an externship orientation session, prior to clinical.
Requirements for completion: To qualify for a Community Pharmacy Technician Certificate, students must successfully complete 288 contact hours of required coursework and internship training listed below.
| Required Courses: |
Total Hours |
| Medical Terminology (MDCA1013) |
32 |
| Introduction to Pharmacy (PHRA1001) |
64 |
| Pharmaceutical Mathematics (PHRA1209) |
48 |
| Drug Classification (PHRA1005) |
64 |
| Clinical: Pharmacy Technician (PHRA1061) |
80 |
| Total Hours: |
288 |
Total Tuition: $1500 (class only)
$2000 (class and clinical)
Financial Aid: Qualifying students may be eligible for financial aid. Complete a FAFSA form on the FAFSA website. (Check with Continuing Education Advisor to find out which year to complete.) If you complete the application and are eligible for a Pell Grant, we can utilize a Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) to assist you with paying for this non-credit program. It will cover up to half of the tuition. Please complete the FAFSA application as soon as possible, but no later than a month prior to the start of the program.