(1) Is the internship cancelled due to COVID-19? As of right now the externship has not been cancelled. Spring 2021 and 2022 were allowed to complete their internships. It was a great experience for all.
(2) If cancelled, does that mean I cannot be certified? No. Even if the externship is cancelled, students have the opportunity to receive two certifications. You can also start applying for jobs should your schedule allow for it. You will STILL BE certified if you work hard and pass the exams.
(3) Is the internship required, and is mask/vaccination required to participate in internships? The internship is required to participate in the course. It is and expectation and part of each students course completion and grade. For the Spring 2023 semester, CVS has notified me that vaccines will be required for students participating with their internship locations. As of May 2022, Walgreens has not posted a requirement for vaccination. These are professional business allowing us to step into a working internship opportunity. We will follow the rules and regulations they have in place. Our counselor can get with your student to find another course that meets their needs if this is not an option.
Where do I register for my trainee license? Is it required? Yes, it is required. It is the law. Without this license you are not allowed in the pharmacy. You must register asap at https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/TechTrainee.asp A doctor cannot practice medicine with-out a license or state registration. You cannot either.
Please note that you MUST have a Social Security Number & a government ID. The ID is required within the first 6 weeks of class. It must be a valid, non-expired, State ID, Passport, or Driver’s License. This is required for the internship as well as testing. Without it they will not admit you to the certification exam.
Certification: Is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam & fees associated with the class required to participate? YES. In order to participate in this class, you are agreeing to the terms outlined here. The PTCE is required and the testing fee should be paid upon agreed terms to Mrs. Powers at the assigned deadline (typically by the first week of class) or arranged agreement. Students that have not paid their testing fee prior to externships, by week 8, will be removed from the program. We strive to keep the cost of our programs to a minimal. These costs associated are required to receive your license & permission to work in a pharmacy. This program in a college setting would cost thousands of dollars in tuition and university fees, take 18-24 months to complete, and incur the same fees we charge. Students are receiving the same college-level certification. The overall objective is for students to receive their certifications, CPhT.
I’ve completed my certification but have not completed my fingerprints? Where do I go to complete this? FINGERPRINT SESSION REQUIRED: Applicants must complete a fingerprint session. The fee for fingerprinting is less than $50. This is part of the state registration for your trainee license. Until this step is completed you won’t receive your required license. Applicants located in Texas, schedule a fingerprint session online at: https://uenroll.identogo.com/servicecode/11G3HG. Following the fingerprint session, keep the receipt for your records. Do not mail it to TSBP. Applicants (using an address) not located in Texas, will receive a packet in the mail with a fingerprint form and instructions sheet because the approved state vendor does not always allow a digital scan. The fingerprint packet is automatically mailed to the address provided on the application. Allow 2 to 3 weeks the packet to arrive via U.S. Postal Service
How hard is the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam? Will I be prepared? As with anything, you must commit to the class. The amount of information that you must have knowledge of should be learned and retained throughout the class. If you try to cram for the test the night before, you could be successful but the test will be extremely hard. Start now by studying a little every night. Commit to the class and your externship. Commit to learning, absorbing, and retaining as much of this information as you can. With this course, proper studying habits, your externship, and study sessions throughout this semester will prepare you. Take a deep breath. We’re going to get you to where you need to be, together. Be aware that spelling counts, and will be graded on in class. There is a significant difference between Hydralazine or Hydroxyzine. A mistake could be deadly. That said, many like numbers. Our program at TECC-East with LISD has one of the top certification numbers in the state. Most college programs certify students in class sizes of 12-15. We certify twice as many students each year in half the time for a 10th of the cost. The PTCB certification exam last year had a national pass rate of 58% for first-time test takers. My average pass-rate is 85%. Pharmacy and teaching are my passions in life. I look forward to sharing this with you.
Think Hard: This is medicine. Parents and students must understand that this is a working externship. This is serious business with professional companies in the community. Students are working with medicine and patients. This is life or death. Students are required to be able to meet all expectations of the class. In medicine, the expectation is 100% all the time or someone could get hurt. Attendance, professionalism, and grades will be used to access if you are capable of meeting this expectation. Students must be able to complete the tasks of the job safely and effectively. TECC-East, Administration, Mrs. Powers, and the pharmacy externship locations reserve the right to remove any student at any time.
I applied for my trainee license and fingerprints several months ago but have not received my certificate? You may check the status of your application at this link: https://licensing.hpc.state.tx.us/datamart/mainMenu.do According to the TSBP (The State Board of Pharmacy), you should allow a minimum of 3 weeks for the application to be approved AFTER you have been fingerprinted. Once your application is approved, and your status is made ACTIVE, a certificate will be mailed to the address you entered on your application within 10 to 17 business days. Applicants are urged to refrain from contacting TSBP staff regarding open applications, especially if the application is not yet approved due to criminal history. Repeated attempts to call staff further delays processing time. All “Yes” responses to Criminal Background Questions and any “Hits” of criminal history on your fingerprint results must be reviewed by an in-house enforcement officer. This review process may take several months. If you have nothing on your background, and it has been more than 4 weeks since you applied AND got fingerprinted, then perhaps you should contact TSBP staff. Contact TSBP: (512)305-8000
When will we complete our drug testing for the externship program? Payment for this physical drug test is due first week. Cost $25-$55 depending. Will discuss in class. You will be physically drug tested in class during your normal class time. To ensure validity of the test, you will only be given 24 hours notice before testing. Students must be present for the drug test the day they are performed. The 3rd party company we are contracted with to administer the test will only be at TECC-East the one scheduled class period. If there is anything causing conflict in your schedule or if you are sick, you are still responsible for showing up to perform this test. If you are sick, you may sign up and leave but you must be present. YOU absolutely cannot miss this test.
May I choose the pharmacy where I complete my externship? Pending COVID-19 and approval from each pharmacy at this time. We are currently working with placing students at pharmacies with CVS, Target, and Walgreens. Some students may elect to be placed at Flower Mound Compounding Pharmacy. In addition, students that are working my receive approval from their pharmacy managers to complete their internships at their places of employment. A formal pharmacy letter with signature will be required for this approved internship location. You will provide to me when asked with your top 3-5 pharmacy choices. If there is a significant reason why you desire to be at a particular location, I will have a comment box when you make your selections. You are not guaranteed a pharmacy choice. I will provide your information to CVS/Walgreens. They will ultimately make the decision what store you will complete your externship at. Externships will start the second 9 weeks of the program. Externships are not promised. They are earned.
TRANSPORTATION to and from internships is the responsibility of students for this program. Performance in class, your professionalism grade, & completion of required documents are your key to the externship opportunity.
Please note that some pharmacies require students to show their pockets before, during, and after leaving their externships. Some locations may ask to look in your bags, purse, etc. prior to leaving. These are rules of the pharmacy, and retail in general. It is intended to protect students, employees, and the business. Please do not be concerned, just aware.