Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Alexander City Alabama

Having decided to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Alexander City AL, you may be wondering just how to select the right program to receive your education and training. Naturally the first step is to locate colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes in your home by means of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have many job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Alexander City AL pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice concerning medications or anything else. Any such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Enter customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is a very satisfying career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 options to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Alexander City AL pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician colleges opt to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Alexander City AL pharmacies will only employ a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Before choosing a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Alexander City pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to obtain some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Alexander City AL home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online programs are sometimes less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online program you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to pick from in the Alexander City AL area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Alexander City home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a complete superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Alexander City AL employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Alexander City AL area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first job in Alexander City AL after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Alexander City AL home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Alexander City AL area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Alexander City

Enroll in the Right Alexander City Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their health is your mission. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech programs include both clinical and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to choose a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the best selection. With the right training and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Alexander City Alabama.

 

Alexander City Pharmacy Technician Programs | Alexander City Pharmacy Technician Classes