Pharmacy Tech School
How to Find the Right One Near Tempe Arizona

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Tempe AZ, you may be wondering how to choose the right program to get your education and training. Naturally the initial step is to find schools that offer the certificate or degree that you are interested in. When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are critical concerns when selecting a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to take a look at a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option 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 discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have multiple job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Tempe 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 filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily services a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Receive and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 options to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Tempe AZ pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Tempe AZ pharmacies will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires 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 work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy technician online college, it's important to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Tempe pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to acquire some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your Tempe AZ home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, notably for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online schools are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials may be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online classes may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician programs to select from in the Tempe AZ area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Tempe home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national 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 colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a superior education, it can help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Tempe AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech program should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Tempe AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Tempe AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some assistance. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job placement 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 profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Tempe 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 concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might 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 don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist technician college you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Tempe AZ area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Tempe

Choose the Right Tempe Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their health is your mission. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech colleges incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to choose a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the right education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Tempe Arizona.

 

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