Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Sun Lakes Arizona

Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Sun Lakes AZ so you can receive the right training to build a career in the rewarding field of medicine. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Many prospective students begin by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are critical concerns when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation should be considered also. And if you prefer attending classes in your home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will need 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 advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job responsibilities, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Sun Lakes AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can help customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily functions a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is a very satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech 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 vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Sun Lakes AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many Sun Lakes AZ pharmacies will only hire a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by each program, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in an area Sun Lakes pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Sun Lakes AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, notably for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often less expensive than traditional 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 colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, 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 best solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the Sun Lakes AZ area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Sun Lakes residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are several other variables that you need to consider in order to adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it might assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently 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 graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification may be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Sun Lakes AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Sun Lakes AZ after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Sun Lakes AZ home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. 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 might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally 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 back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Sun Lakes AZ area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Sun Lakes

Enroll in the Right Sun Lakes Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where helping people with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech colleges incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the proper training and dedication you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Sun Lakes Arizona.

 

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