Pharmacy Tech College
How to Pick the Best One Near San Tan Valley Arizona

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near San Tan Valley AZ, you may be wondering how to select the ideal school to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are critical factors when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation need to be taken into account as well. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifications 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 benefits of online classes.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job functions, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed San Tan Valley AZ pharmacist. They must also have excellent 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 need to 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 pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the common daily duties a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is a very fulfilling career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 alternatives to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted San Tan Valley AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which usually takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools choose to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many San Tan Valley AZ employers will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Before selecting a pharmacist technician online program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in a local San Tan Valley 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 get some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed online in your San Tan Valley AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, notably for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and study materials may be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that each online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

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 attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the San Tan Valley AZ area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your San Tan Valley residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many San Tan Valley AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which can be met through an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with San Tan Valley AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in San Tan Valley AZ after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching 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 field 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 number of students, the school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their San Tan Valley AZ residence. Students who have opted 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 bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps 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 commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for 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 prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the San Tan Valley AZ area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in San Tan Valley

Choose the Right San Tan Valley Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a gratifying occupation where assisting people with their health is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist technician schools incorporate both laboratory and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in San Tan Valley Arizona.

 

San Tan Valley Pharmacy Technician Classes | San Tan Valley Pharmacy Tech Schools