Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Albany California

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Albany CA, you may be wondering just how to select the best program to get your education and training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? A number of future students begin by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are critical factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation must be taken into account as well. You might also decide to take a look at a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers 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 benefits of online classes.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Albany CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 alternatives to becoming a technician 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 finished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Albany CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many Albany CA pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires 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 work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online program, it's important to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area Albany pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to get some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Albany CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction might be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician schools to choose from in the Albany CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Albany 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 take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded 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 schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Albany CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This condition can be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Albany CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Albany CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Albany CA residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller 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 classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Albany CA area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Albany

Enroll in the Right Albany Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the best pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to launching your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech colleges include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the proper training and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Albany California.

 

Albany Pharmacy Technician Training | Albany Pharmacy Technician Courses