Pharmacy Tech School
How to Choose the Right One Near Jonesboro Arkansas

Having made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Jonesboro AR, you may be thinking about just how to pick the ideal college to receive your education and training. Usually the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important concerns when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation should be taken into account also. And if you are interested in attending classes at home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifications 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 technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have multiple job functions, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Jonesboro AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. 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 after hours is a very gratifying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. 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 offer an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Jonesboro AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician colleges elect to become certified so as 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 provide certification:

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

The NHA requires that the candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online program, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in a local Jonesboro pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as 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 accommodating for many students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online school you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online training might be the best solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have determined whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the Jonesboro AR area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Jonesboro home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you must consider in order to adequately compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician 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). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Jonesboro AR pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Jonesboro AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Jonesboro AR upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult task without some assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Jonesboro AR home. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing 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 ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Jonesboro AR area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Jonesboro

Choose the Right Jonesboro Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their wellness is your objective. In the past, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech programs include both classroom and clinical training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Jonesboro Arkansas.

 

Jonesboro Pharmacy Technician Training | Jonesboro Pharmacy Technician Courses