Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Find the Right One Near Phoenix Arizona

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Phoenix AZ, you may be wondering how to pick the right school to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? A number of prospective students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are critical factors when selecting a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation must be taken into account as well. You might also want to research several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Phoenix AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

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

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is an extremely rewarding career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Phoenix AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech colleges opt to get certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, a number of Phoenix AZ pharmacies will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer 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 only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Before deciding on a pharmacist tech online school, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in a local Phoenix pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to acquire some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed over the internet in your Phoenix AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, notably for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online college you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Phoenix 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 covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Phoenix residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are several other factors that you need to consider in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Phoenix AZ 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 technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician school should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This qualification can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Phoenix AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Phoenix AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any support. Find out if the colleges you are considering 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 demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Phoenix AZ residence. 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 area internships will be of importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Phoenix AZ area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Phoenix

Enroll in the Best Phoenix Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their health is your mission. In the past, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy technician schools incorporate both classroom and clinical work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the right education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Phoenix Arizona.

 

Phoenix Pharmacy Technician Schools | Phoenix Pharmacy Technician Training