Pharmacy Technician - Houston

This course introduces students to the structure and operation of pharmacy practice across a variety of healthcare settings, including community, hospital, mail-order, and long-term care environments. Students examine the historical development of the pharmacy profession and its current regulatory framework, exploring the roles of governing agencies such as the FDA, DEA, and Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP). Topics include technician duties, chain-of-command responsibilities, prescription and medication order workflows, and the role of automation in pharmacy operations. Students will also explore key concepts such as formulary systems, drug utilization reviews (DURs), and pharmacy billing procedures. Emphasis is placed on professionalism, communication with the healthcare team, and ethical conduct. The course introduces patient confidentiality and HIPAA compliance, medication storage and security, and outlines the training and certification pathway for pharmacy technicians. By the end of the course, students will understand foundational pharmacy operations and prepare for more specialized topics in pharmacology, calculations, and compounding.

This course provides an in-depth study of medical terminology, focusing on word-building skills that allow students to analyze and understand medical terms encountered in pharmacy practice. Students learn the meanings and applications of prefixes, suffixes, and root words, and practice forming and interpreting complex medical terms. The curriculum covers all major body systems—cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, urinary, and reproductive—integrating terminology with anatomical and physiological functions. Students will also study diagnostic terms, pathological conditions, and pharmacological treatments relevant to each system. The course prepares students to confidently interpret medication orders, prescription labels, and clinical documentation. Special emphasis is placed on terms associated with dosage forms, routes of administration, and drug effects on target systems. Students apply this terminology to patient profiles, billing systems, and pharmacy communication protocols.

This course introduces students to the principles of pharmacology with a focus on drug classification, therapeutic use, and the relationship between drug action and body systems. Students will study pharmacokinetic processes—absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME)—and pharmacodynamics, including drug-receptor interactions and mechanisms of action. The curriculum includes detailed analysis of major drug classes such as antihypertensives, antidiabetics, anti-infectives, CNS agents, gastrointestinal drugs, and respiratory medications. Students will learn to identify medications by brand and generic names, understand dosage forms and routes of administration, and explain therapeutic indications. Emphasis is placed on drug storage, labeling, federal scheduling (DEA classifications), and controlled substance handling. Interactive exercises include building flashcards, dosage form recognition, and mapping drug categories to clinical use cases. This foundational pharmacology course builds competence for interpreting prescriptions and understanding how medications interact with the body.

This advanced pharmacology course focuses on pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics, integrating drug therapy with disease processes. Students examine common acute and chronic diseases by body system, including cardiovascular conditions, respiratory disorders, infections, endocrine imbalances, neurological conditions, and mental health disorders. Pathophysiological mechanisms are studied alongside drug therapy options, adverse effects, and contraindications. Students evaluate medication regimens based on efficacy, safety, and patient-specific considerations such as age, organ function, and comorbidities. Case-based scenarios help develop clinical reasoning skills, including medication reconciliation, patient counseling considerations, and addressing non-adherence. The course also explores immunizations, biologics, specialty pharmaceuticals, and over-the-counter (OTC) treatment options. Emphasis is placed on recognizing drug interactions, managing polypharmacy, and monitoring therapeutic outcomes in pharmacy settings.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the legal, regulatory, and ethical foundations of pharmacy practice. Students explore the major federal laws governing drug development, distribution, and dispensing, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Controlled Substances Act, and Poison Prevention Packaging Act. Texas-specific laws and TSBP regulations are emphasized, covering prescription requirements, labeling laws, technician registration, and recordkeeping practices. Students examine the DEA’s drug scheduling system, inventory control for controlled substances, and auditing procedures. Ethical frameworks include patient confidentiality, informed consent, conflict of interest, and reporting of medication errors or abuse. Students participate in ethical decision-making exercises and compliance documentation simulations. This course prepares students to operate within legal boundaries and uphold professional standards expected in pharmacy practice.

This course teaches the mathematical competencies necessary for safe and accurate medication preparation and delivery in pharmacy practice. Students learn to perform pharmaceutical calculations involving fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions, percentages, and measurement conversions between metric, apothecary, and household systems. The curriculum emphasizes calculations for dosage adjustments, pediatric dosing, IV infusion rates(gtt/min, mL/hr), and reconstitution of powders for injection. Students apply dimensional analysis and alligation methods to solve complex compounding and dilution problems. Realistic lab scenarios require students to perform dosage and concentration checks, verify dispensing quantities, and document calculation outcomes. The course supports USP <795> and USP <797> standards by integrating calculation exercises specific to non-sterile and sterile compounding procedures. Students also complete error analysis drills to reinforce quality assurance in pharmacy operations.

This course trains students in the science and practice of pharmaceutical compounding, guided by national standards established by USP Chapters <795>, <797>, and <800>. USP <795> governs non-sterile compounding, covering preparation of creams, ointments, suspensions, and capsules, with instruction on ingredient selection, beyond-use dating, mixing techniques, and labeling. Students maintain compounding logs and quality documentation, simulating community and specialty pharmacy environments. USP <797> establishes sterile compounding requirements, including aseptic technique, cleanroom operation, garbing, use of laminar airflow workbenches (LAFWs), and contamination control. Students learn to prepare IV solutions, parenteral medications, and ophthalmic products while maintaining ISO-classified air quality environments. USP <800> introduces hazardous drug handling protocols, emphasizing PPE use, negative pressure room procedures, closed-system transfer devices, and disposal of chemotherapy waste. Hands-on training includes compounding simulations, equipment calibration, and regulatory compliance exercises. Students complete mock audits and QA checklists to validate understanding of compounding responsibilities and documentation accuracy in both institutional and outpatient settings.

This course focuses on pharmacy operations, emphasizing inventory management, billing systems, and the role of technology in modern pharmacies. Students explore inventory control strategies such as par-level systems, just-in-time ordering, FIFO (first-in, first-out), and expiration date tracking. Topics include drug procurement processes, returns and recalls, DEA form usage for controlled substances, and documentation for compliance audits. The billing component introduces third-party payers, formulary management, claim submission, prior authorization, co-pay structures, and rejection resolution. Students gain hands-on experience with pharmacy management systems, including inventory modules, prescription processing workflows, and electronic health record integration. Automation in pharmacy practice is explored through the use of barcoding, robotics, automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs), and e-prescribing systems. The course prepares students to ensure efficient, compliant, and cost-effective pharmacy operations while safeguarding medication integrity.

This course emphasizes the prevention of medication errors and implementation of quality assurance practices in pharmacy settings. Students learn to classify and identify root causes of prescribing, dispensing, and administration errors using error taxonomies and case studies. The course covers the roles of safety organizations such as the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), FDA MedWatch, and the REMS program. Students explore high-alert medications, look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) drugs, and risk mitigation strategies such as tall-man lettering and auxiliary labeling. Medication incident reporting, documentation protocols, and communication procedures are reinforced through simulated safety audits. Students also learn how to apply root cause analysis (RCA) and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) in pharmacy environments. Continuous quality improvement (CQI)concepts are introduced, focusing on workflow optimization, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and technician-led safety interventions.

This capstone course prepares students for national certification exams, such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT). The course aligns with the official exam blueprints and includes targeted reviews of the key domains: Medications, Federal Requirements, Patient Safety, and Order Entry and Processing. Students complete timed practice exams, flashcard drills, and remediation sessions with guided feedback. The course also includes professional development training—resume writing, mock interviews, job search strategies, and soft skills for employment in healthcare environments. Career preparation modules explore pharmacy career pathways in community, institutional, specialty, and research settings. Students develop personalized study plans, track progress on certification readiness assessments, and learn continuing education requirements for technician recertification.

This externship provides students with 200 hours of hands-on experience in an actual pharmacy setting under the supervision of licensed pharmacists and certified technicians. Students apply classroom knowledge to real-world tasks such as prescription preparation, patient profile updates, insurance claim processing, and inventory control. The experience may include exposure to non-sterile and sterile compounding environments, application of USP <795> and <797> procedures, and use of pharmacy information systems. Students must maintain accurate records of activities, complete supervisor evaluations, and reflect on their professional development. Adherence to institutional protocols, confidentiality standards, and state pharmacy laws is strictly enforced. The externship reinforces workplace readiness, professionalism, and technical competency, bridging the gap between academic instruction and workforce expectations.