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Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Find the Best One Near Athens Alabama

Athens Alabama female pharmacy tech assisting senior womanNow that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Athens AL, you may be pondering how to pick the right school to get your education and training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical concerns when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account as well. You may also want to look into a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Athens Alabama hospital pharmacy technician wearing white lab coatIndividuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Athens AL pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Athens Alabama female student attending pharmacy tech courses onlineBefore choosing a pharmacist technician online program, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Athens pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Athens AL home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, especially for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction might be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have determined whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Athens AL area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Athens home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you should consider in order to adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Athens AL pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Athens AL area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in Athens AL upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Athens AL residence. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer 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 pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Athens AL area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Athens

Choose the Right Athens Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where helping customers with their wellness is your mission. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician programs include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate training and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Athens Alabama.




 

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