Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Select the Right One Near Conway Arkansas

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Conway AR, you may be wondering just how to select the best program to receive your education and training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Many prospective students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are important concerns when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation must be considered also. You might also decide to research a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have many job functions, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Conway AR pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily functions a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is a very rewarding career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two alternatives to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Conway AR pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges choose to get certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, many Conway AR pharmacies 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 requirements are 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 professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy tech online college, it's necessary to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in a local Conway pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to receive some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Conway AR home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, notably for those who keep working while earning their certificate or degree. And online programs are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and study materials may be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online training might be the ideal solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have decided whether you want to obtain 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 tech colleges to select from in the Conway AR area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational 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 Conway residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you need to consider so that you may adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require 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 Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with 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 tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Conway AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Conway AR upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their Conway AR home. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose 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 often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Conway AR area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Conway

Choose the Right Conway Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their health is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech schools include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and 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 education and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Conway Arkansas.

 

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