Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Prichard Alabama

Having made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Prichard AL, you might be thinking about just how to pick the right program to get your education and training. Naturally the first step is to find schools that offer the certificate or degree that you are interested in. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You may also want to look into a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job duties, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Prichard AL pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily services a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Add prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Complete 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 the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is a very satisfying career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Diplomas and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two options to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Prichard AL pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, many Prichard AL pharmacies will only employ a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that offer 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 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 called for every two years by both programs, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Programs

Prior to selecting a pharmacist technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in an area Prichard pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to obtain some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed over the internet in your Prichard AL home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to select from in the Prichard AL area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Prichard residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Prichard AL employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement may be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Prichard AL area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Prichard AL after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without some support. Find out if the colleges 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 an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Prichard AL residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. 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 often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Prichard AL area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Prichard

Enroll in the Right Prichard Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician colleges incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered 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 online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Prichard Alabama.

 

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