Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Conway Arkansas

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Conway AR, you might be pondering how to choose the best program to receive your education and training. Naturally the initial step is to locate schools that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. Many future students begin by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are significant concerns when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you are interested in attending classes at home by means of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Conway AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order 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 prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily duties a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Enter customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work after hours is a very satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two 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 diploma or a certificate, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Conway AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs elect to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many Conway AR pharmacies will only employ a technician 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 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in an area Conway pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician in order to obtain some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Conway AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, particularly for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized 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 instruction may be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have decided whether you want to earn 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 narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Conway AR area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Conway home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you should 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 final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational 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 verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Conway AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech school should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Conway AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Conway AR upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Conway AR residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools 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 final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Conway AR area, confirm 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 protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Conway

Enroll in the Right Conway Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting people with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech colleges incorporate both laboratory and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for online classes 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 right selection. With the proper training and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Conway Arkansas.

 

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