Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near North Little Rock Arkansas

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near North Little Rock AR in order to receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are significant concerns when selecting a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation need to be considered as well. You may 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 qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing 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 Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have multiple job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed North Little Rock AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can help customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily duties a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is a very fulfilling career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician 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 essentially 2 alternatives to training to be a technician 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 accomplished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an approved North Little Rock AR pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of North Little Rock AR pharmacies will only employ a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires 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 just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Programs

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online college, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in an area North Little Rock pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to obtain some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed over the internet in your North Little Rock AR home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, notably for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional 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 provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online classes might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician schools to choose from in the North Little Rock AR area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your North Little Rock residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare schools. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national 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 comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Don't forget to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of North Little Rock AR pharmacies 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 technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition can be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with North Little Rock AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in North Little Rock AR after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they select will need to be within driving distance of their North Little Rock AR residence. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently 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 likes to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at 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 decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the North Little Rock AR area, verify 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 need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in North Little Rock

Choose the Best North Little Rock Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where helping customers with their health is your mission. In the past, many pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech programs include both clinical and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's important 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 make use of our other suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the right education and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in North Little Rock Arkansas.

 

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