Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Select the Best One Near Sun City Arizona

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Sun City AZ, you might be wondering just how to select the right college to get your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account as well. You might also want to look into several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Sun City AZ pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Enter prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature 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 low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two alternatives to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Sun City AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to get certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Sun City AZ pharmacies will only hire a technician 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 candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Before selecting a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in a local Sun City pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to obtain some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be taken online in your Sun City AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials may be decreased 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 obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program 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 instruction may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech colleges to select from in the Sun City AZ area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Sun City home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are several other factors that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Many pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Sun City AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which can be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Sun City AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Sun City AZ upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Sun City AZ home. Those 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 importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy technician college you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Sun City 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 enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Sun City

Choose the Right Sun City Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges incorporate both laboratory and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the best selection. With the proper training and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Sun City Arizona.

 

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