General Information
College of the Mainland offers courses for students who want to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy Technicians are skilled healthcare specialists that work under the direction of a licensed Pharmacist. Our two semester program will help prepare the student for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification exam as well as prepare them for employment in a pharmacy setting. To be temporarily registered as a Pharmacy Technician student in training, all individuals must pass a state mandated background check through the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
Growing Field
Careers as a pharmacy technician are very diverse and challenging. Pharmacy Technicians provide customer service by assisting the pharmacist. This includes preparation of new and refilled prescriptions, pharmacy inventory, processing sales, and exceptional customer relation skills. Employers in the community pharmacy industry are looking for applicants with previous experience or who have attended an educational pharmacy technician program which includes internship experience in a retail pharmacy setting. Employers in the hospital pharmacy industry are looking for applicants with the same experience as above but in a hospital setting. They also prefer applicants to be I.V. Certified before they are hired. The U.S. Department of Labor has recently predicted that employment opportunities are growing faster than ever due to the increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger and older population who have greater needs and usage of medication.
Career Opportunities
| Hospital Pharmacy | State and Federal Prison | Warehouse Wholesalers |
| Retail Chains | Nuclear Pharmacies | Long Term Care Facilities |
| Home Health Care | Independent Community | Mail Order Pharmacy |
| Nursing Homes | Indian Health Services | Specialty Clinics |
| Internet Pharmacy | Home I.V. Infusion Services | Automation Robotics |
salary range = $22,000 - $34,000 annually
Admissions Requirements
- Students should complete an application to apply for admission into College of the Mainland and complete any necessary college requirements for admission. Students can complete this application in the admissions office located in the Administration Building, room A-140 (office hours: Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or apply on-line on COM's web page at www.com.edu. Call ext 264 if you have any questions about the application.
- On the college appraisal test (TASP Alternative), students must score a 12.0 reading level prior to enrolling in the pharmacy technician courses. Students must also be eligible for MATH 0310. Students with equivalent SAT or ACT scores or an Associate Degree or higher may be exempt from taking this course. Please call the testing center at ext. 379 to schedule the test.
Curriculum
The following is a list of courses that comprise College of the Mainland's Pharmacy Technician program. The curriculum is designed for students attending full-time at College of the Mainland. The program is offered during the day and the evening. The day-time program will begin each fall semester and the evening program will begin each spring semester. The program consists of 25 credit hours upon completion.
|
First Semester PHRA-1301-Intro / Immunization Certification PHRA-1309-Math-1 PHRA-1441-Pharmacology / Disease PHRA-1349-Institutional / I.V. Certification |
Second Semester PHRA-1243-Certification Review PHRA-1347-Math-2 PHRA-1404-Pharmacotherapy / Disease PHRA- 2361-Pharmacy / Internship |
*** Upon completion total Certificate Program Credits = 25
Day and Night Programs Available
Estimated Costs
The following are only estimates, actual costs may vary.
| In-district | Out-of-district | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | $488 | $930 |
| 2nd Semester | $488 | $930 |
| 1st Semester | $250 |
| 2nd Semester | $100 |
| Uniforms: | $50 |
| Tb Shot: | $10 |
| Malpractice: | $18 |
Financial Aid
The Pharmacy Technician program is eligible for many of the financial aid programs available at College of the Mainland. For specific information about financial aid or to place a financial aid application, please call (409) 938-1211 ext. 274.
More Information
For more information about the Pharmacy Technician program, contact:
Director: Bridget Ryan Mahoney R.Ph.
Registered Pharmacist
1200 Amburn Road
Texas City, Texas 77591
1-888-258-8859 ext. 685
409-938-1211 ext. 685
Public Services Careers
Pharmacy Tech.
Contact
Director
Registered Pharmacist
1-888-258-8859 ext. 685
409-938-1211 ext. 685