Pharmacy Tech School
How to Pick the Best One Near San Luis Arizona

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near San Luis AZ so you can get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Usually the first step is to locate schools that offer the diploma or degree that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to take a look at some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will need 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 advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed San Luis AZ pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice concerning medications or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the common daily functions a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings 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 an extremely rewarding career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two options to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade 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 overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved San Luis AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech colleges elect to get certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, a number of San Luis AZ employers will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online school, it's necessary to realize that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in an area San Luis pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to receive some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your San Luis AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials can be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that any online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online classes might be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain 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 alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech programs to pick from in the San Luis AZ area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your San Luis residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare programs. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have obtained 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 verified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Don't forget to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many San Luis AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways 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 practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with San Luis AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in San Luis AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their San Luis AZ residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area 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 perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size 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 schools you are considering what the average 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 opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the San Luis AZ area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in San Luis

Choose the Best San Luis Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist technician schools include both classroom and clinical training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to select a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the proper education and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in San Luis Arizona.

 

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