Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Choose the Best One Near Bentonville Arkansas

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Bentonville AR, you might be thinking about how to pick the best college to receive your education and training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are critical concerns when selecting a college, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You might also want to research a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Bentonville AR pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily duties a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority 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 helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 alternatives to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Bentonville AR pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Bentonville AR employers will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online college, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local Bentonville pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to receive some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Bentonville AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online 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 any online college you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Bentonville AR area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Bentonville home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of 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 comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Bentonville AR pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work 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 associations with Bentonville AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in Bentonville AR upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some help. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Bentonville AR home. Students who have opted 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 importance. One thing to consider is that if you choose 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 often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist tech college you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Bentonville AR area, verify 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 carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Bentonville

Choose the Right Bentonville Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting people with their health is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician colleges include both classroom and clinical training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds 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 colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Bentonville Arkansas.

 

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