Pharmacy Tech College
How to Pick the Right One Near Auburn Alabama

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Auburn AL so you can receive the right training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You might also want to take a look at a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Auburn AL pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the common daily duties a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is an extremely satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Auburn AL pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician colleges elect to become certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Auburn AL pharmacies will only employ a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online training program, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in a local Auburn pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician so as to obtain some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Auburn AL home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized 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 classes might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to select from in the Auburn AL area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Auburn home. If you are willing 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 issues that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Don't forget to check that the certificate or degree program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you get a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Auburn 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 required in all states, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Auburn AL area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Auburn AL upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high 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 large network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Auburn AL home. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech college you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Auburn AL area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Auburn

Enroll in the Best Auburn Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to starting your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting customers with their health is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech programs include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the proper education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Auburn Alabama.

 

Auburn Pharmacy Technician Schools | Auburn Pharmacy Technician Training