Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Prescott Arizona

Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Prescott AZ in order to get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important factors when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation need to be considered also. And if you prefer studying in your home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Prescott AZ pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise 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 instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist guidance
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is a very rewarding career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two alternatives to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Prescott AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to get certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Prescott AZ employers will only hire a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has completed 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 both programs, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Colleges

Before selecting a pharmacy tech online school, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in a local Prescott pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to receive some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed online in your Prescott AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, notably for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online college you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance 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 may be the right solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have determined whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Prescott AZ area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Prescott home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Prescott AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This qualification may be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Prescott AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Prescott AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging task without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Prescott AZ home. Individuals who have chosen 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 decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Prescott AZ area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Prescott

Choose the Best Prescott Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a gratifying occupation where assisting people with their wellness is your mission. In the past, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy technician schools include both classroom and clinical work. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to choose a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the proper training and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Prescott Arizona.

 

Prescott Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Prescott Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online