Pharmacy Technology AAS

The Pharmacy Technology AAS degree (AAS_PHRT) is offered at LSC-North Harris and has additional entrance requirements. For more information, please contac the Pharmacy Technology Department.

Program Description

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 traditional pharmacy settings, e.g. retail and hospital pharmacies, and non-traditional pharmacy settings, e.g. compounding and nuclear pharmacies.

The pharmacy technology certificate program is a two-semester cohort program that provides an 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 at LSCNorth Harris in the spring will be in the evening program that runs for 12 months (January through December).

The certificate program at both LSC-North Harris and LSC-Tomball is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The pharmacy technology certificate program prepares graduates to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), to become a certified pharmacy technician (CPhT). Pharmacy technicians in the State of Texas are required to be certified by examination within the year allotted. The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) also requires certified pharmacy technicians to register with the Board. It further requires that a person performing pharmacy technician duties in a pharmacy must be registered by TSBP as either a pharmacy technician or a pharmacy technician trainee. This includes students while they are doing"clinical" rotations in pharmacies. To register, the pharmacy technology student can find links at http://www.tsbp.state.tx.us to the online registration applications. Pharmacies must ensure that all pharmacy technician trainees complete the online registration process. Included with the registration process is the criminal background information, which requires submission of the applicant's social security number and high school graduation information. The criminal background history must be clear of any felonies or controlled substance violations prior to enrollment in the pharmacy technology program.

Once an applicant has successfully completed all requirements of registration, and the TSBP has determined there are no grounds to refuse registration, the applicant will be issued a red certificate as a pharmacy technician trainee. This certificate expires two years from the date of issuance.

Admission Criteria for the AAS Degree Program

The associate of applied science degree in pharmacy technology requires an additional year of course work. The purpose of the program is to prepare graduates for managerial positions and customer service in hospital and community/retail pharmacies. An associate degree in pharmacy technology emphasizes the technician's interest in and dedication to the work. Further emphasis is placed on ethics and federal and state laws. The pharmacy courses for the AAS degree are offered at LSC-North Harris.

Applicants seeking admission to the AAS program must contact the program director at 281.618.5727 to determine eligibility and prerequisite requirements. Include official documentation of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) certificate, Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) certificate, and completion of the pharmacy technology certificate from an accredited institution.

Each candidate will be assessed on an individual basis by the program director to determine his or her eligibility before applying to the AAS program. Those who did not complete a pharmacy technology program but had informal on-the-job training must contact the program director for a PLA (Prior Learning Assessment). A nominal fee is required for an assessment of the student's previous work experience. Prior to graduation from the AAS degree program, students must complete LSCS Student Success Initiative (SSI) requirements.

Program Plan

First Year Credits

Second Year Credits

Total Credits