Pharmacy Tech College
How to Find the Right One Near Pine Bluff Arkansas

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Pine Bluff AR so you can get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Usually the initial step is to find schools that offer the diploma or degree that you would like to earn. A number of prospective students begin by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are critical concerns when selecting a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation need to be considered also. You might also want to look into a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have multiple job functions, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Pine Bluff AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Add customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications 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 profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that 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 usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted Pine Bluff AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Pine Bluff AR pharmacies 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 requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished 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 exam. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Before choosing a pharmacist tech online school, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Pine Bluff pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to acquire some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Pine Bluff AR home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who keep working while earning their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training might be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

Once you have determined whether you want to earn 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 numerous pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Pine Bluff AR area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Pine Bluff residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you should consider so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a complete quality education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Pine Bluff AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech school should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Pine Bluff AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Pine Bluff AR upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Pine Bluff AR residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Pine Bluff AR area, make sure that they are offered. 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, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Pine Bluff

Choose the Right Pine Bluff Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a rewarding occupation where helping people with their wellness is your mission. In the past, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech schools include both laboratory and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prep 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 compare programs so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Pine Bluff Arkansas.

 

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