Pharmacy Tech School
How to Pick the Right One Near Bryant Arkansas

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Bryant AR, you might be thinking about just how to pick the right program to receive your education and training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important concerns when selecting a college, 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. And if you are interested in attending classes at home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have various job functions, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Bryant AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice relating to medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician might perform are:

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

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 options 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 finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Bryant AR pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, many Bryant 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 candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online college, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is typically fulfilled in a local Bryant pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Bryant AR home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while attaining their degree or certificate. And online programs are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials can be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, 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 might be the right solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have determined whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician schools to choose from in the Bryant AR area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community 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 commuting distance from your Bryant home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you must consider so that you may effectively compare colleges. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Bryant AR employers 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 all states, but many pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied 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 tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Bryant AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Bryant AR upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without some support. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession generating demand 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 lot of students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Bryant AR home. Individuals who have chosen 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. One thing to bear 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist technician college you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Bryant AR area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Bryant

Choose the Best Bryant Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding profession where assisting people with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges include both laboratory and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the proper training and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Bryant Arkansas.

 

Bryant Pharmacy Technician Programs | Bryant Pharmacy Technician Classes