PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Accreditation:
The Pharmacy Technology program is accredited by the
American Society of Health System Pharmacist (ASHP)

Download a Pharmacy Tech Brochure

Angelina College implemented a Pharmacy Technology (PHRA) program in Fall, 2002. 

The implementation of this program was approved by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THE CB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Pharmacy Technology program conducted by Angelina College is accredited by the American Society of Health- System Pharmacists. 

The Pharmacy Technology Program curriculum is a nine month sequence of instruction, with entry in the Fall semester only.

Pharmacist have long recognized the need for a group of specially trained personnel who have the expertise to provide technical support to the pharmacist. In doing so, valuable pharmacist time needed to perform technical tasks can now be assumed by the pharmacy technician.

A pharmacy technician is a paraprofessional who works under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist to assist in the various activities of a pharmacy department that may not always require the professional judgment of the pharmacist. Such duties include, but need not be limited to:

• Maintaining patient records

• Setting-up, packaging and labeling medication doses

• Filling and dispensing routine orders for stock supplies of patient-care areas

• Maintaining inventories of drug supplies

• Mixing drugs with parenteral fluids

• Sterile product preparation

• Customer service

The profession of pharmacy technology allows graduates to pursue employment in different types of pharmacy environments. This may include retail pharmacies (independently-owned, drug store chain, grocery store, department store, or mass merchandiser), hospitals, mail-order pharmacies, clinics, long-term facilities, health agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturing industries and in the military.

A pharmacy technology student's job tasks will include but are not limited to the following:

• Retrieving, stocking, and taking inventory of medication
• Counting/dispensing medications under pharmacist's supervision
• Direct customer/patient interaction
• Pharmacist/Physician interaction
• Basic clerical skills
• Traveling to clinical sites
• A personal commitment
• Professionalism
• Practicum experience - Pharmacy technician students will work in a variety of professional settings. 

Pharmacies that provide practicum opportunities for Angelina College students include:

Lufkin:

• Brookshire Bros. (Gaslight & Fresh Market & #5)
• CVS (Frank & Lufkin Ave)
• ETBHN
• K-Mart
• Memorial Health System of East Texas
• The Medicine Shoppe
• Timberland Discount Pharmacy
• Walgreen's

Nacogdoches

• Memorial Hospital
• Medical Center Hospital
• M&S Pharmacy
• Sunscript
• Walgreens

Jasper

• Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital
• Medicine Shoppe
• Walgreens

Livingston

• Memorial Medical Center
• Brookshire Brothers

Crockett

• Davy Crockett Drug
• Brookshire Brothers
• ETMC Crockett Hospital

Woodville

• Brookshire Brothers
• Tyler County Hospital

Hemphill

• Sabine County Hospital
• Brookshire Bros.

Diboll

• Brookshire Bros.

San Augustine

• San Augustine Drug

Admission Criteria

Although Angelina College has an open-door policy, specific programs in the College have selected admission. 

The pharmacy technology (PHRA) program has selected admission because more students apply to the program than the program can accommodate. 

Angelina College offers a cooperative pharmacy technology program with the area hospitals and retail pharmacies. The certificate program is designed to provide understanding, proficiency, and skill in pharmacy technology.

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy requires that all individuals performing technician duties must be registered with the board prior to beginning training in a Texas licensed pharmacy.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will receive a certificate of completion from Angelina College. Students will take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination that is administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) in the Spring semester.

Students completing the program will also have satisfied the Texas State Board of Pharmacy training requirements to compound sterile product. This training is part of an ASHP-Accredited program which allows it to be "transferred" to any Texas pharmacy.

After passing the national certification, students must register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. The approval process includes verification of your criminal history and PTCB certification information.

The program curriculum is a balance of approved didactic and practicum courses which offers the student an opportunity for educational development as well as occupational competence during the nine month program. The student must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in all pharmacy technology courses or be dropped from the program.

All applicants should be advised that any conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor charge (other than a minor traffic violation), or hospitalization or treatment for mental illness or chemical dependency can make you ineligible for national certification.

Admission to Pharmacy Technology Program

1. Be 18 years of age by Sept. 1.

2. Gain admission to Angelina College.

3. Attend an information session to obtain an application packet and information on the program.

4. Completed application packet for pharmacy technology program must be submitted by June 15 each year for August consideration. This application packet is complete only when all information requested is received. Submit application packet to secretary in HCII, Room 128. The hepatitis B series (3 shots in 6 months) must be completed by the first clinical day in September.

5. Take THEA or Accuplacer test and required Keyboarding proficiency examination or computer course. If THEA exempt, must take Accuplacer.

6. Send all official transcripts directly to Angelina College Registrar's office from issuing schools/agencies. College transfer students must submit official transcripts from all colleges in which the applicants has enrolled. A copy of official college transcripts and a high school transcript or GED scores should be turned in with the completed program (PHRA) application packet.

7. Acceptance into the pharmacy technology program will be limited; applicants will be ranked an selected based on a point system. The point system will be based on pre-admission testing (TASP/THEA or Accuplacer and Keyboarding tests), attendance of information session, former health care work related experience, former college education courses or college degree; and completion of ALL requirements by the posted deadlines.

8. Interview: The top 25-30 eligible applicants will be interviewed. Candidates will be interviewed on an individual basis by an Interview Committee and will be required to write a short essay on their interest in the pharmacy technology program.

9. Students who are accepted into the PHRA program will be notified with a letter from the Pharmacy Technology Program Coordinator before fall registration.

10. Drug screening and background check will be required after "conditional" acceptance into the program at a designated time prior to clinical assignments. (This will be done at the student's expense, approximately $80.)

11. The drug screen and background check must be negative to receive "full" acceptance into the program.

Additionally, those applicants accepted into the program must have a complete physical and receive appropriate immunizations and provide a negative drug screen and current CPR certification as mandated by Texas Dept. of State Health Services for healthcare workers prior to practicum assignment.

Pharmacy Technology Program

*Courses must be taken in sequence. Co-requisites and prerequisites required: See course descriptions in General Bulletin.

+Must take STSU 0300 if less than 24 hours college credit.

Graduates of the Angelina College Pharmacy Technology Program will be eligible for:

• Angelina College Certificate of Completion

• National Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam

• Texas Board of Pharmacy Registration

Student Accidents:
As a student at Angelina College, you will encounter certain risks while you are enrolled in a classroom, or laboratory experience, or in a clinical or practicum setting. In the event that you sustain an injury and or require any medical testing or care, all resulting medical expenses (hospital, ambulance, or physician fees), are your responsibility and not the responsibility of Angelina College or the clinical/practicum site.

It is recommended that you purchase a student/personal health insurance plan (medical and hospitalization) if you are not covered by a group health insurance plan.

Pharmacy Technician Job Outlook:

Good job opportunities are expected for full-time and part-time work, especially for technicians with formal training or previous experience. Employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014 because as the population grows and ages, demand for medications will increase dramatically. The increased number of middle-aged and elderly people will spur demand for technicians in all practice settings.