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Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Phenix City Alabama

Phenix City Alabama female pharmacy technician assisting woman customerNow it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Phenix City AL in order to 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 enroll in the best one? Many potential students start by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when picking 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 cost and location. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Phenix City Alabama female pharmacy technician taking item from shelf

Pharmacy techs have multiple job responsibilities, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Phenix City AL pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

  • Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
  • Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
  • Input customer and prescription data 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 profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is a very satisfying career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Diplomas

Phenix City Alabama hospital pharmacy tech in white lab coatStudents desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 alternatives to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Phenix City AL pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges choose to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Phenix City AL employers will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two 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 finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Phenix City Alabama woman enrolled in pharmacy tech school onlineBefore deciding on a pharmacy tech online training program, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area Phenix City pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to get some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Phenix City AL home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, notably for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials can be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

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 begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Phenix City AL area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Phenix City home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech 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). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Phenix City AL pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement may be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on 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. Ask if the schools have associations with Phenix City AL area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Phenix City AL upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies 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 college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Phenix City AL residence. Students who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching 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 ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Phenix City AL area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Phenix City

Choose the Best Phenix City Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a gratifying occupation where assisting people with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most employers can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician colleges include both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to choose a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the right education and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Phenix City Alabama.




 

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