Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Select the Right One Near Juneau Alaska

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Juneau AK 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 schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of potential students begin by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation must be evaluated also. And if you are interested in studying at home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have many job responsibilities, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Juneau AK pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily functions a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Enter prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor 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 typical, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 options to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Juneau AK pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to get certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, many Juneau AK employers will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online program, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in a local Juneau pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Juneau AK home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, notably for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can 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 critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online instruction might be the right solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have determined whether you want 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 narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech colleges to select from in the Juneau AK area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Juneau residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you must consider so that you may adequately compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Juneau AK employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician college needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Juneau AK area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Juneau AK upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without any support. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement 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 field generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Juneau AK home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes permit 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 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 perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech college you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Juneau AK area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Juneau

Choose the Best Juneau Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the best pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where helping customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech schools include both classroom and laboratory training. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to select a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is 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 best selection. With the appropriate training and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Juneau Alaska.

 

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