Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Select the Right One Near Benton Arkansas

Having decided to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Benton AR, you may be pondering just how to choose the ideal school to get your education and training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Many future students start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important concerns when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation should be considered also. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have numerous job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Benton AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills since they will be dealing 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 extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily functions a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Receive and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is a very rewarding career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Diplomas and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two alternatives to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Benton AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools choose to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Benton AR pharmacies will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide 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 applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Colleges

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in an area Benton pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to acquire some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Benton AR home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction may be the right solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Benton AR area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Benton home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to consider in order to properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Benton AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Benton AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Benton AR upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Benton AR home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering 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 determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Benton AR area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Benton

Enroll in the Best Benton Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where assisting people with their health is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of employers 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. Many pharmacy technician schools include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to choose a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the right education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Benton Arkansas.

 

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