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

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Rio Rico AZ in order to receive the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you are interested in studying in your 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 cover these qualifiers and some others that you will want 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 courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Rio Rico AZ pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Enter prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor 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 very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is a very gratifying career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally 2 options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also include an internship at an approved Rio Rico AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools choose to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Rio Rico AZ employers will only employ a technician 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 applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Before choosing a pharmacist technician online college, it's necessary to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in an area Rio Rico pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to acquire some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed online in your Rio Rico AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction may be the best solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have decided whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Rio Rico AZ area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Rio Rico home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you get a superior education, it might assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Rio Rico AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement may be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of 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 certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Rio Rico AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Rio Rico AZ upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without some help. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand 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 a lot of students, the school they pick will have to be within commuting distance of their Rio Rico AZ home. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may 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 for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide 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 average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech college you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Rio Rico AZ area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses 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 obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Rio Rico

Choose the Right Rio Rico Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where helping customers with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy tech colleges include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the proper education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Rio Rico Arizona.

 

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