Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Jonesboro Arkansas

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Jonesboro AR in order to get the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools 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 cost. While cost and location are significant factors when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You may also decide to look into several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Jonesboro AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the common daily tasks a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Enter customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply 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 weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is an extremely rewarding career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two options to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Jonesboro AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either 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 Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Jonesboro AR employers will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer 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 completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacist technician online program, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in a local Jonesboro pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Jonesboro AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are looking at is accredited by a recognized 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 classes might be the ideal solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, 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 a large number of pharmacist tech schools to pick from in the Jonesboro AR area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Jonesboro home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you must take into consideration in order to properly compare programs. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Jonesboro AR pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Jonesboro AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Jonesboro AR after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without any support. Ask if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Jonesboro AR residence. Individuals 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 importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing 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 decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Jonesboro AR area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Jonesboro

Choose the Right Jonesboro Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting customers with their health is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the proper education and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Jonesboro Arkansas.

 

Jonesboro Pharmacy Tech Certificate | Jonesboro Pharmacy Technician Schools