Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Blytheville Arkansas

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Blytheville AR in order to receive the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when selecting a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. You might also want to look into some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Blytheville AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

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

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 options to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Blytheville AR pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools choose to get certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, many Blytheville AR employers will only employ 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 applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, 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 called for every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Classes Online

Before selecting a pharmacy tech 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 setting. This is typically satisfied in an area Blytheville pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to obtain some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Blytheville AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online schools are often 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 comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online classes might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Blytheville AR area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Blytheville home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you get a superior education, it may assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate 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 College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be met with 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 clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Blytheville AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in Blytheville AR upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some help. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Blytheville AR residence. Individuals who have decided 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. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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 Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk 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 confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Blytheville AR area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Blytheville

Enroll in the Best Blytheville Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech programs incorporate both laboratory and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the right training and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Blytheville Arkansas.

 

Blytheville Pharmacy Technician Schools | Blytheville Pharmacy Technician Training