Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Maumelle Arkansas

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Maumelle AR in order to receive the proper 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 enroll in the best one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when selecting 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 location and cost. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and some 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 Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Maumelle AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance 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 perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 alternatives to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Maumelle AR pharmacy or similar 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 offer a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, a number of Maumelle AR pharmacies will only employ 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 finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Schools

Prior to choosing a pharmacist technician online college, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in an area Maumelle pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Maumelle AR home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, particularly for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the right option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Maumelle AR area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Maumelle home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Maumelle AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Maumelle AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Maumelle AR upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting task without any help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Maumelle AR home. Those 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 concern. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally 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 the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Maumelle AR area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. 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 about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Maumelle

Choose the Right Maumelle Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where helping customers with their wellness is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy technician schools include both clinical and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for online classes 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 certain to make the right choice. With the proper education and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Maumelle Arkansas.

 

Maumelle Pharmacy Technician Schools | Maumelle Pharmacy Technician Training