Pharmacy Tech School
How to Choose the Right One Near Sun Lakes Arizona

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Sun Lakes AZ, you might be wondering just how to select the best college to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to locate schools that offer the certificate or degree that you are interested in. A number of future students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are critical factors when selecting a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. And if you are interested in studying in your home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have various job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Sun Lakes AZ pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily tasks a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 alternatives to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Sun Lakes AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Sun Lakes AZ employers will only hire 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 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Before choosing a pharmacy technician online school, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in a local Sun Lakes pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Sun Lakes AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials may be reduced significantly. 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 each online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the ideal solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have determined whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Sun Lakes AZ area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Sun Lakes residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Sun Lakes AZ pharmacies 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 a number of employers desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech school should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Sun Lakes AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Sun Lakes AZ upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some support. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Sun Lakes AZ home. Those who have chosen 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 concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even 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 normally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy tech program you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Sun Lakes AZ area, make certain that they are available. 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 have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Sun Lakes

Choose the Right Sun Lakes Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting customers with their health is your mission. In the past, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech schools include both clinical and classroom training. As we have covered 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 as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the proper education and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Sun Lakes Arizona.

 

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