Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Sierra Vista Southeast Arizona

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Sierra Vista Southeast AZ, you might be pondering just how to choose the ideal school to receive your education and training. Of course the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you would like to earn. Many potential students start by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are critical concerns when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account also. And if you are interested in studying in your home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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

Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have many job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Sierra Vista Southeast AZ pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice concerning medications or anything else. Any such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Enter prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and manage 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 lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 options to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Sierra Vista Southeast AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, many Sierra Vista Southeast AZ employers will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, 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 examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by both programs, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online program, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in an area Sierra Vista Southeast pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to get some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed online in your Sierra Vista Southeast AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, especially for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online programs are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and study materials may 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 important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online college you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech schools to pick from in the Sierra Vista Southeast AZ area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Sierra Vista Southeast home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may properly compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Don't forget to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you get a quality education, it can help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Sierra Vista Southeast AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which may be met 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 prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Sierra Vista Southeast AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Sierra Vista Southeast AZ upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some support. Find out if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Sierra Vista Southeast AZ residence. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. 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 speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech college you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Sierra Vista Southeast AZ area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask 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 Sierra Vista Southeast

Enroll in the Best Sierra Vista Southeast Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the best pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the proper training and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Sierra Vista Southeast Arizona.

 

Sierra Vista Southeast Pharmacy Tech Schools Online | Sierra Vista Southeast Pharmacy Technician Certificate