Pharmacy Tech School
How to Select the Best One Near Paradise Valley Arizona

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Paradise Valley AZ, you might be thinking about just how to pick the right school to receive your education and training. Of course the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. Many potential students begin by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important concerns when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation need to be considered also. And if you prefer studying at home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Paradise Valley AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is a very fulfilling career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 alternatives to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an approved Paradise Valley AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech colleges elect to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many Paradise Valley AZ employers will only employ 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 candidate be at least 18 years old, 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 examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Before deciding on a pharmacy tech online school, it's important to understand that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in a local Paradise Valley pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to obtain some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Paradise Valley AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each online college you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized 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 might be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have determined whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Paradise Valley AZ area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational 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 Paradise Valley home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration in order to properly compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations 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 obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Paradise Valley AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech program should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied through 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 clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Paradise Valley AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Paradise Valley AZ upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Paradise Valley AZ home. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry 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 choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Paradise Valley AZ area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol 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 Paradise Valley

Choose the Best Paradise Valley Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their wellness is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy technician schools include both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the proper education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Paradise Valley Arizona.

 

Paradise Valley Pharmacy Tech Schools | Paradise Valley How To Become A Pharmacy Tech