Pharmacy Tech School
How to Pick the Right One Near West Memphis Arkansas

Having made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near West Memphis AR, you might be thinking about how to pick the best college to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to locate colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account also. And if you are interested in attending classes at home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. 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 certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have numerous job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed West Memphis AR pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, 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 payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is an extremely satisfying career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two alternatives to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved West Memphis AR pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs elect to become certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of West Memphis AR employers will only employ a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that offer 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 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 Technician Online Schools

Before deciding on a pharmacy tech online school, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in an area West Memphis pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your West Memphis AR home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, notably for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

Once you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacist tech schools to pick from in the West Memphis AR area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your West Memphis residence. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you must consider in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of West Memphis AR employers 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 mandated in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with West Memphis AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in West Memphis AR upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some help. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their West Memphis AR home. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep 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 be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy tech program you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the West Memphis AR area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in West Memphis

Enroll in the Best West Memphis Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the ideal pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting people with their wellness is your mission. In the past, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true 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 colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in West Memphis Arkansas.

 

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