As a pharmacy technician supplemental instructor (SI), student Kenley Miller-Sangodeyi empathizes with students. Having just finished the program last year, he is finishing his prerequisites for pharmacy school at San Jacinto College, helping current students succeed in the program just the way he did.

Opportunity knocks for pharmacy technician students

“My whole family is in the medical field,” said Miller-Sangodeyi. “My grandmother and aunt are RNs, my mom does medical billing, and my dad is a doctor. I’ve always known I wanted to be in the medical field, I just wasn’t sure which path to take. Two years ago, I stopped by the Kroger pharmacy, started talking to the pharmacy tech, she told me about the program here at San Jacinto College, and I decided to apply.”

“I think a lot of students don’t realize how quickly they can have a new career,” said Mario Garcia, San Jacinto College South Campus pharmacy technician program director. “Our program is only three semesters, with morning classes offered each Fall semester and evening classes offered each Spring semester. The last semester is spent on clinical rotations in both retail and hospital settings.”

The excellent reputation of the College’s pharmacy technician program often precedes itself in the industry. Miller-Sangodeyi said he noticed this while doing his clinicals, and often times felt more prepared than the actual employed technicians. “During clinicals, several of my classmates and I found that we knew how to do calculations for IV medications when the techs that were there did not. I tell students that some things you learn may seem trivial, but when you’re out in the field it’s better to be over prepared than under prepared.”

The pharmacy technician program ensures that its students are given the best foundation possible to enter the workforce. “Some retail pharmacies offer a crash course in pharmacy technology,” said Garcia. “However, their main goal is to prepare those students to only work in a retail environment. Our program is accredited by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP), so we prepare the technician to work in any number of environments like hospitals, long term care, sterile and non-sterile compounding, and more. There are numerous opportunities for technicians aside from retail. For instance, while students are familiar with IV medications, they never knew that a pharmacy tech is the one that prepares them for administration by the nurses.”

For students applying to pharmacy school programs, putting their certified pharmacy technician credential on their application often proves to be an advantage over other applicants. University programs tend to favor those students who have experience in the rigor of pharmacy course work and industry experience.

The pharmacy industry is also seeing its share of technological changes. “We are seeing a lot of robotics and automation in pharmacy today,” said Garcia. “Despite that, there is still a growing need for technicians to assist with the maintenance of these machines. Pharmacy technicians are still needed to confirm the count and quality of the medications even in an automated process.”

At the end of the day, pharmacy technician students form a bond by the time they finish the program. “We become a family in a sense,” said Miller-Sangodeyi. “Those classmates you see on your first day become your best friends. Everyone is there to support each other and make sure we all succeed.”

Students who complete the pharmacy technician program receive a certificate of technology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians in Texas can earn an average of $31,850.

For more information on San Jacinto College’s pharmacy technician program, visit sanjac.edu/pharmtech.

Andrea Vasquez