Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Find the Best One Near Siloam Springs Arkansas

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Siloam Springs AR so you can get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Many prospective students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are important concerns when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes at home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over 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 advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have multiple job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Siloam Springs AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist guidance
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two alternatives to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Siloam Springs AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Siloam Springs AR employers will only hire 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 at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online program, it's necessary to understand that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in a local Siloam Springs pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to obtain some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Siloam Springs AR home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, 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 classes may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician schools to select from in the Siloam Springs AR area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Siloam Springs residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other issues that you need to consider in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have acquired 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 additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make 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 sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Siloam Springs AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Siloam Springs AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Siloam Springs AR upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without some help. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Siloam Springs AR residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something 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 may 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 don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Siloam Springs AR area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative 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 because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Siloam Springs

Choose the Best Siloam Springs Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech colleges include both laboratory and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true 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 compare schools so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the right training and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Siloam Springs Arkansas.

 

Siloam Springs Pharmacy Technician Schools | Siloam Springs Pharmacy Technician Training