Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Select the Right One Near Paragould Arkansas

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Paragould AR in order to get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. Of course the first step is to locate schools that offer the diploma or degree that you would like to earn. 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 cost and location are critical factors when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation need to be evaluated also. You might also want to research several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will need 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 advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job functions, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Paragould AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice regarding medications or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily services a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out 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 most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is an extremely rewarding career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 options to training to be a tech 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 overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an accepted Paragould AR pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about two years of studies. Although not required 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 amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech programs opt to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Paragould AR employers will only employ a technician that is certified. 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 completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Before choosing a pharmacy tech online school, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in a local Paragould pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed over the internet in your Paragould AR home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program you are considering 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 supervised form of education, then online training may be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Paragould AR area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Paragould home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you must consider in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional 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 screened and verified to provide a complete quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Paragould AR pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work 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 schools have a working relationship with Paragould AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Paragould AR upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Ask if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Paragould AR home. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose 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 usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. 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 some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Paragould AR area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Paragould

Enroll in the Best Paragould Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where helping people with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist technician colleges include both clinical and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to select a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the proper training and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Paragould Arkansas.

 

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