Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Choose the Right One Near Rogers Arkansas

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Rogers AR in order to get the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Of course the initial step is to locate colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. Many future students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are important factors when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to research a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over 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 degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job functions, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Rogers AR pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily functions a pharmacy technician might perform are:

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

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two alternatives to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Rogers AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges opt to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Rogers AR pharmacies will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Before selecting a pharmacy technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in an area Rogers pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to obtain some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed over the internet in your Rogers AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, notably for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online programs are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online classes might be the right solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Rogers AR area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Rogers residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you need to consider in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among 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 furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Rogers AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Rogers AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Rogers AR after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any support. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, 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 generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Rogers AR home. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech program you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Rogers AR area, check 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 due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Rogers

Choose the Best Rogers Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy technician schools incorporate both clinical and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the proper training and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Rogers Arkansas.

 

Rogers Pharmacy Technician Schools | Rogers Pharmacy Technician Training