Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Select the Best One Near Fort Smith Arkansas

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Fort Smith AR in order to receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are critical concerns when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account also. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have various job responsibilities, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Fort Smith AR pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily services a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Add 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

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work after hours is a very fulfilling career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two options to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Fort Smith AR pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 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 in the future. Each program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

Certification is not required in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy tech programs opt to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, many Fort Smith AR pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requires that the candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online training program, it's important to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Fort Smith pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to acquire some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Fort Smith AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, especially for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that any online program you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online instruction may be the best solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech colleges to select from in the Fort Smith AR area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Fort Smith home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to consider so that you may adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have earned 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 certified to provide a complete quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Fort Smith AR pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement can be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Fort Smith AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Fort Smith AR after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without some assistance. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Fort Smith AR home. Students who have decided 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 concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching 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 determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Fort Smith AR area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Fort Smith

Enroll in the Right Fort Smith Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their health is your mission. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech colleges include both classroom and clinical training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the proper education and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Fort Smith Arkansas.

 

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