Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Sun City West Arizona

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Sun City West AZ so you can get the right training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. Usually the initial step is to find colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you would like to earn. When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are critical factors when selecting a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You may also decide to look into a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Sun City West AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily duties a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Sun City West AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally involves about two years of studies. Although not required 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 should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs elect to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Sun City West AZ employers will only employ a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online school, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Sun City West pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician so as to get some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Sun City West AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, notably for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online programs are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials can be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician schools to select from in the Sun City West AZ area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Sun City West residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you must consider in order to properly compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Sun City West AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to 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 met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Sun City West AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Sun City West AZ after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Find out if the schools you are researching 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 field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they pick will have to be within commuting distance of their Sun City West AZ home. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. 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 might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Sun City West AZ area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Sun City West

Enroll in the Best Sun City West Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the right pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where helping people with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech schools incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Sun City West Arizona.

 

Sun City West Pharmacy Technician Programs | Sun City West Pharmacy Technician Classes