Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Paradise Valley Arizona

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Paradise Valley AZ in order to receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. Naturally the initial step is to find schools that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. A number of prospective students begin by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are significant concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes 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 go over these qualifications and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job functions, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Paradise Valley AZ pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, 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 techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two alternatives to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Paradise Valley AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech programs elect to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Paradise Valley AZ employers will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be at least 18 years old, 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 graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacist technician online program, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in an area Paradise Valley pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to acquire some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your Paradise Valley AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online schools are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials may be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online training may be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician programs to select from in the Paradise Valley AZ area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting 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 important. But there are several other issues that you need to consider in order to properly compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Paradise Valley AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This condition may be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Paradise Valley AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Paradise Valley AZ after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching 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 employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Paradise Valley AZ residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Paradise Valley AZ area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Paradise Valley

Choose the Right Paradise Valley Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy technician colleges incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to choose a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the proper training and dedication you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Paradise Valley Arizona.

 

Paradise Valley Pharmacy Technician Programs | Paradise Valley Pharmacy Technician Classes