Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Select the Best One Near Opelika Alabama

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Opelika AL so you can get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. And if you prefer studying at 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 discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Opelika AL pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Opelika AL pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to get certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Opelika AL pharmacies will only employ a tech 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 candidate be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has finished 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 both programs, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Before selecting a pharmacist technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically fulfilled in an area Opelika pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to obtain some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed over the internet in your Opelika AL home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction might be the best choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

Once you have decided whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician schools to pick from in the Opelika AL area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Opelika residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Opelika AL pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This condition may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with Opelika AL area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Opelika AL after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Opelika AL residence. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Opelika AL area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Opelika

Enroll in the Best Opelika Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your mission. In the past, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician programs include both clinical and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to select a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the right education and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Opelika Alabama.

 

Opelika Pharmacy Tech Certificate | Opelika Pharmacy Technician Schools