Pharmacy Tech School
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Prescott Arizona

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Prescott AZ, you may be thinking about how to pick the best school to get your education and training. Naturally the first step is to find schools that offer the certificate or degree that you would like to earn. Many potential students begin by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are significant concerns when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to look into several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally 2 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 provide an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Prescott AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Before selecting a pharmacy tech online college, it's necessary to understand that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in a local Prescott pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician so as to get some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your Prescott AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have determined whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician schools to choose from in the Prescott AZ area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Prescott home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are several other factors that you must consider so that you may properly compare schools. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Prescott AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire 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 an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Prescott AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Prescott AZ after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some help. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Prescott AZ home. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local 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 may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big 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 want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Prescott AZ area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check 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 might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Prescott

Choose the Best Prescott Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting people with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacist techs 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 techs. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy technician schools incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to select a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the right choice. With the proper training and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Prescott Arizona.

 

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