Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Scottsdale Arizona

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Scottsdale AZ, you may be pondering just how to pick the right program to get your education and training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are significant concerns when choosing a college, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over 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 technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have many job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Scottsdale AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily services a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Receive and help 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
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

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

Pharmacy Tech Diplomas and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Scottsdale AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead 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 decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Scottsdale AZ pharmacies will only employ a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which can be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Classes Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online school, it's necessary to understand that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area Scottsdale pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed online in your Scottsdale AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online programs are often less expensive than classroom 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 schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college 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 learn with a less supervised form of education, then online classes might be the right solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

After you have determined whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician schools to select from in the Scottsdale AZ area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Scottsdale residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you should take into consideration in order to properly compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have obtained 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 verified to furnish a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Scottsdale AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

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

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train 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. Ask if the programs have associations with Scottsdale AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Scottsdale AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, 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 means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Scottsdale AZ residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind 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 typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Scottsdale AZ area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Scottsdale

Choose the Best Scottsdale Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the ideal pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges include both classroom and clinical work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the right training and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Scottsdale Arizona.

 

Scottsdale Pharmacy Technician Schools | Scottsdale Pharmacy Technician Training