Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Bentonville Arkansas

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Bentonville AR, you might be wondering just how to choose the right school to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are critical factors when choosing a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer studying at home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then finding an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have multiple job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Bentonville AR pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily duties a pharmacy technician might perform are:

• Receive and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Add prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, 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 helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two options to becoming 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 finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Bentonville AR pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which usually requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges elect to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Bentonville AR pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 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 at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online college, it's important to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in an area Bentonville pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to obtain 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 practical for many students, notably for those who continue to work while attaining their degree or certificate. And online schools are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online training may be the ideal solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have decided whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to choose from in the Bentonville AR area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Bentonville home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare programs. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a complete superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only 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 sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it might help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Bentonville AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech program should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways 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 a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with Bentonville AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Bentonville AR upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some support. Find out if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, 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 indicates that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Bentonville AR home. Students who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something 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 might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical 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 converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Bentonville AR area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about 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 starting your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech programs include both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college 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 follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the right education and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Bentonville Arkansas.

 

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