Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Tempe Arizona

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Tempe AZ so you can receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding field of medicine. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? Many potential students start by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are significant factors when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation need to be considered as well. And if you are interested in studying at 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. Below we go over these qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. 

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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech programs to pick from in the Tempe AZ area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Tempe residence. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration in order to properly compare schools. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of 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 provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Tempe AZ pharmacies 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 required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with Tempe AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Tempe AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If so, find out 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 indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Tempe AZ residence. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one 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 a chance to speak with several 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 technician program you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Tempe AZ area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Tempe

Choose the Best Tempe Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping customers with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech schools incorporate both laboratory and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to choose a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the appropriate education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Tempe Arizona.

 

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