Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Prescott Valley Arizona

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Prescott Valley AZ, you may be thinking about just how to pick the best program to receive your education and training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? A number of potential students begin by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are important factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation should be evaluated also. You might also decide to take a look at a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Prescott Valley AZ pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the common daily services a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out 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 most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely rewarding career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 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 usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Prescott Valley AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many Prescott Valley AZ pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. 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 at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Programs Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Prescott Valley pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to acquire some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Prescott Valley AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online programs are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials can be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, 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 instruction might be the right solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Prescott Valley AZ area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Prescott Valley residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of 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 provide a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Don't forget to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in securing financial aid 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 Prescott Valley AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This qualification can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied 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 tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Prescott Valley AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Prescott Valley AZ after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any support. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Prescott Valley AZ residence. Students who have chosen 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to 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 way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech college you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Prescott Valley AZ area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Prescott Valley

Enroll in the Right Prescott Valley Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where helping people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech schools include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to choose a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Prescott Valley Arizona.

 

Prescott Valley Pharmacy Tech Certificate | Prescott Valley Pharmacy Technician Schools