Pharmacy Tech College
How to Pick the Best One Near Rio Rico Arizona

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Rio Rico AZ, you may be thinking about just how to pick the right college to receive your education and training. Usually the initial step is to find colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation need to be taken into account also. And if you prefer attending classes at home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have various job functions, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Rio Rico AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the common daily duties a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist guidance
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

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

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school 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 attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Rio Rico AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges choose to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Rio Rico AZ employers will only employ a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Schools

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online program, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in an area Rio Rico pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Rio Rico AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online programs are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online classes might be the ideal solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Rio Rico AZ area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Rio Rico residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you should consider in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have obtained 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 furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. 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. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Rio Rico AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Rio Rico AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Rio Rico AZ after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without some help. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Rio Rico AZ residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Rio Rico AZ area, check that they are offered. 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 have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Rio Rico

Choose the Best Rio Rico Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the best pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their health is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy technician programs incorporate both laboratory and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true 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 certain to make the right choice. With the proper education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Rio Rico Arizona.

 

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