Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Choose the Right One Near San Tan Valley Arizona

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near San Tan Valley AZ, you might be pondering just how to select the ideal college to get your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of potential students start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are critical factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to 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 instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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

Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed San Tan Valley AZ pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily tasks a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

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

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Diplomas and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two alternatives to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved San Tan Valley AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, a number of San Tan Valley AZ pharmacies will only employ a technician that is certified. 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, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online program, it's necessary to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local San Tan Valley pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as 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 accommodating for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials can be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college 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 supervised form of education, then online instruction may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

After you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the San Tan Valley AZ area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your San Tan Valley residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you should take into consideration so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national 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 verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many San Tan Valley AZ employers 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 required in all states, but many pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician program should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with 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 clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with San Tan Valley AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in San Tan Valley AZ upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their San Tan Valley AZ residence. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide 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 commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the San Tan Valley AZ area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in San Tan Valley

Choose the Right San Tan Valley Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech schools include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to choose a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the proper training and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in San Tan Valley Arizona.

 

San Tan Valley Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online | San Tan Valley Pharmacy Technician Programs