Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Payson Arizona

Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Payson AZ so you can receive the right training to build a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. Naturally the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when deciding on a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation need to be considered as well. You may also decide to look into several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want 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 courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Payson AZ pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the common daily duties a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is a very fulfilling career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two options to becoming 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 accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Payson AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech programs elect to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Payson AZ pharmacies will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy tech online program, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in a local Payson pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to get some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Payson AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have determined whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist tech programs to pick from in the Payson AZ area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Payson home. If you are willing to move 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 should take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you get a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Payson 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 mandated in all states, but a number of pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Payson AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Payson AZ upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any support. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Payson AZ home. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to consider 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 often 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.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Payson AZ area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Payson

Choose the Best Payson Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy tech training is an important first step to starting your career in a fulfilling profession where helping people with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech programs incorporate both classroom and clinical work. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the right education and commitment you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Payson Arizona.

 

Payson Pharmacy Tech Certificate | Payson Pharmacy Technician Schools