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

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Sierra Vista Southeast AZ, you may be thinking about just how to select the ideal school to receive your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of potential students start by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when deciding on a school, 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. And if you are interested in attending classes at home by means of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then finding an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have many job duties, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Sierra Vista Southeast AZ pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician might perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Input customer and prescription data 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 control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer technicians with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is a very rewarding career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Diplomas and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. A number of 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 generally requires about 2 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. Each program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to get certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, a number of Sierra Vista Southeast AZ employers will only hire a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Programs

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in a local Sierra Vista Southeast pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to get some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken online in your Sierra Vista Southeast AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, notably for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online school you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online training might be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have determined whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, 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 technician colleges to select from in the Sierra Vista Southeast AZ area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Sierra Vista Southeast residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Sierra Vista Southeast AZ employers 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 desire that the techs they employ be 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 one year of professional experience. This qualification may be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Sierra Vista Southeast AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Sierra Vista Southeast AZ after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without some support. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Sierra Vista Southeast AZ home. Students who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often 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.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical 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 a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist tech program you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Sierra Vista Southeast AZ area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Sierra Vista Southeast

Enroll in the Right Sierra Vista Southeast Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a gratifying occupation where assisting customers with their wellness is your mission. In the past, many pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy tech schools include both classroom and laboratory training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true 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 certain to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Sierra Vista Southeast Arizona.

 

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