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

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Prescott Valley AZ in order to receive the right training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including reputation and accreditation should be considered as well. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have multiple job functions, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Prescott Valley AZ pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Enter prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is a very rewarding career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Prescott Valley AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to get certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Prescott Valley AZ employers will only employ a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Classes Online

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in an area Prescott Valley pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Prescott Valley AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, notably for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online programs are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each 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 supervised form of education, then online classes may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician schools to pick from in the Prescott Valley AZ area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Prescott Valley home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional 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 evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Prescott Valley AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition may be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Prescott Valley AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first position in Prescott Valley AZ after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, find out 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 sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will have to be within driving distance of their Prescott Valley AZ residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. 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 may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Prescott Valley AZ area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Prescott Valley

Choose the Right Prescott Valley Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the right pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to launching your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech programs include both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the right training and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Prescott Valley Arizona.

 

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