Pharmacy Technician

Program Director: Shunetta Lewis
Office: Multipurpose Building, Room 215
Address: 802 E. Lavaca St., Beaumont, TX 77705
Phone: 409-951-5702
E-mail: pharmacytechnology@lit.edu

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), advancement opportunities are available in large pharmacies and health systems. Pharmacy Technicians with significant training and experience can be promoted to supervisory positions, inventory control, and purchasing processes. Opportunities exist for advancement into specialty positions such as chemotherapy technician or nuclear pharmacy technician, and others may move into sales.

With a substantial amount of formal training, some technicians go on to become pharmacists. Employment for Pharmacy Technicians is expected to increase and job opportunities to be good, especially for those with formal education and a certification.

The goal of the Pharmacy Technician Program is to assist licensed pharmacists in the preparation and distribution of prescription medications in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospital, community pharmacies, home health pharmacies, and specialty pharmacies. Duties of the Pharmacy Technician can include data entry, providing customer service, counting, packaging and labeling pharmaceutical products, sterile product preparation, and inventory management.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and must pass all sections of the TSI assessment and pass a criminal background check. Students that complete Introduction to Pharmacy Technology (PHRA 1301 ) and Pharmacy Technician Certification Review (PHRA 1243 ) are eligible to apply to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam, a national certification test administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PCTB).

Students must: 1) maintain a 'C' or better in all courses in the Pharmacy Technician Program, 2) maintain a 2.0 GPA in all courses in the Pharmacy Technician Program, 3) successfully pass a Criminal Background Screen, and 4) complete the Recommended Program of Study in order to earn a Certificate in Pharmacy Technician.

Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the department for additional information.

Awards

• Pharmacy Technician, Certificate