Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Blytheville Arkansas

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Blytheville AR, you might be wondering just how to choose the right college to get your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are important concerns when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. You might also choose to research a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Blytheville AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medications under pharmacist direction
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely rewarding career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally 2 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 normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also include an internship at an approved Blytheville AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech programs choose to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Blytheville AR pharmacies will only hire a tech that is certified. 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, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work 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 can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online training program, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Blytheville pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to get some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Blytheville AR home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, notably for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician programs to select from in the Blytheville AR 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 most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Blytheville home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Blytheville AR 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 required in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Blytheville AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Blytheville AR after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Blytheville AR residence. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. 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 talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Blytheville AR area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Blytheville

Choose the Right Blytheville Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where helping customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges incorporate both laboratory and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Blytheville Arkansas.

 

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