Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Select the Best One Near Fort Smith Arkansas
Having decided to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Fort Smith AR, you might be thinking about just how to select the ideal college to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to locate colleges that offer the certificate or degree that you would like to earn. A number of future students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are critical factors when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation should be considered as well. You might also choose to look into several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will want 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 benefits of online programs.
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Pharmacy Technician Job Description
Pharmacy techs have various job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Fort Smith AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may 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 offer medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech may perform are:
- Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
- Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
- Enter prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
- Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
- Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
- Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory
As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is an extremely gratifying career helping customers with their health and wellness.
Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs
Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Fort Smith AR pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.
Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available
It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Fort Smith AR pharmacies will only hire a technician that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
The NHA requirements are that the candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.
Pharmacy Tech Online Programs
Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to realize 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 Fort Smith pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to obtain some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Fort Smith AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, especially for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, 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 classes may be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want 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 programs to choose from in the Fort Smith AR area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered 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 able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you need to consider so that you may effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. 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 recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require 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 College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Fort Smith AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in Fort Smith AR upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Fort Smith AR home. Students who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something 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 have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big 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 prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Fort Smith AR area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have 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 obligations.
Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Fort Smith
Choose the Best Fort Smith Pharmacy Tech School
Receiving the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist technician programs incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to select a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the proper training and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Fort Smith Arkansas.
Fort Smith Pharmacy Technician Schools | Fort Smith Pharmacy Technician Training