Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Choose the Best One Near Jacksonville Arkansas

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Jacksonville AR in order to receive the right training to begin a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are critical concerns when deciding on 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 cost and location. You might also decide to take a look at some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, 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 Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have many job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Jacksonville AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the common daily duties a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is a very rewarding career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 alternatives to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Jacksonville AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician colleges elect to get certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Jacksonville AR pharmacies will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which can be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online school, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local Jacksonville pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Jacksonville AR home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online programs are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for securing 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 supervised form of education, then online instruction might be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have decided whether you would like to earn 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 pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the Jacksonville 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 undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Jacksonville residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other variables that you need to consider so that you may properly compare programs. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Jacksonville AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This requirement can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Jacksonville AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Jacksonville AR after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, 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 appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Jacksonville AR residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing 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 might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. 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 converse with a few 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 pharmacist technician program you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Jacksonville AR area, make certain 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 carry. 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 Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Jacksonville

Enroll in the Right Jacksonville Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting people with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy technician programs incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to choose a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the right training and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Jacksonville Arkansas.

 

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