Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Select the Best One Near Fairbanks Alaska

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Fairbanks AK, you might be pondering how to choose the ideal program to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right 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 tuition and location are critical factors when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also decide to look into some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have many job functions, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Fairbanks AK pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice relating to medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Receive and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

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

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as 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 certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Fairbanks AK pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, a number of Fairbanks AK pharmacies will only employ a technician that has earned certification. 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, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Schools

Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area Fairbanks pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Fairbanks AK home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, especially for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online schools are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online instruction might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Fairbanks AK area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical 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 Fairbanks home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should 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 decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to provide a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it might assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Fairbanks AK employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. One of the best ways 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 clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Fairbanks AK area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Fairbanks AK after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without any support. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Fairbanks AK residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly 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.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical 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 talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician program you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Fairbanks AK area, make certain 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 enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Fairbanks

Enroll in the Best Fairbanks Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their health is your mission. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy technician schools include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the proper education and determination you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Fairbanks Alaska.

 

Fairbanks Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Fairbanks Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online