The air is quiet, broken only by the click-clack of a pill-counting tray and a hushed, professional voice. “Can you confirm the date of birth?” A “pharmacist” in a white coat leans in, squinting at a prescription, checking it twice. The room carries the focused intensity of a real pharmacy, where a single mistake is not an option. But this isn’t a Walgreens. This is Allen High School, and these are students running a full-scale, simulated pharmacy—a capstone experience for a CTE pathway that is training the next generation of healthcare’s frontline.
An immersive simulation is the final test, but the journey to become a pharmacist starts much earlier. This specialized program, led by Courtney Shelton, Allen High School’s Pharmacy 1 and Pharmacy 2 teacher, begins with a foundational year.
In Pharmacy 1, students like junior Grant Nguyen build their theoretical skills. For Grant, the interest is deeply personal. “When I was a kid, I was intrigued by how medication could change how I felt," he shared. "That led to my interest in becoming a pharmacist.”
While he anticipated the heavy science, Grant was also struck by the other components of the curriculum, such as the work ethics that govern the healthcare industry. But beyond the excitement, the program is a serious reality check. The biggest misconception students have, Shelton says, is that the program is easy. The most challenging part is the sheer volume of information. To apply exam concepts into their future jobs, students must memorize the names and functions of 200 drugs, complete tricky dosage calculations, understand basic chemistry, and learn how to communicate effectively.
Students who master the foundation continue to Pharmacy 2, where they move from theory to application. Shelton structures this advanced class as a 50/50 split between book work and lab work. She says, “The classroom learning prepares them for the hands-on [activities] because it teaches them all the basics of medication, preparation, and sterility.”
The labs are where this knowledge comes to life. “I have seen students’ eyes light up when we get into the lab and they do something as simple as pill counting,” Shelton said. This hands-on work begins with activities like compounding lip balm and escalates toward the fully immersive pharmacy simulation at the end of the second year.
This rigorous training is essential because the stakes are so high. What makes this pathway so unique, Shelton explains, is its focus on indirect patient care: “[Pharmacists are] doing things that are vitally important to the patient’s safety. They make sure that someone's medication is the correct dosage, is the correct medication, [and that they are] not taking other medications that could contraindicate the medications that they are being prescribed.”
The program’s ultimate goal is to prepare students to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. Passing it earns them the CPhT, or Certified Pharmacy Technician, credential—a distinction, Shelton notes, that makes them highly sought after for the highest pay rates in their field right out of high school.
The program is a demanding preview of a career that requires precision and dedication. But for those who stick with it, the reward is more than just a certification. It is a solid foundation for a long-term career and a deeper understanding of the healthcare ecosystem. For Shelton, the ultimate goal is human-centric: “I hope that every student takes away a love of healthcare and a passion for helping others.”