Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near American Canyon California

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near American Canyon CA, you may be thinking about how to select the right program to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to locate schools that offer the certificate or degree that you would like to earn. A number of prospective students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are critical concerns when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to look into some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed American Canyon CA pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding medications or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Enter prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted American Canyon CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of American Canyon CA pharmacies will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 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 completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Before choosing a pharmacy technician online college, it's important to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically fulfilled in a local American Canyon pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to get some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your American Canyon CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials can be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that each online college you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online training may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician schools to choose from in the American Canyon CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your American Canyon residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it might help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many American Canyon CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many employers prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech college should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. 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 College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which may be met through 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 practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with American Canyon CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in American Canyon CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without any help. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high 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 employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their American Canyon CA home. Students who have chosen to attend online classes 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 bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm 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 attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the American Canyon CA 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, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in American Canyon

Choose the Right American Canyon Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a rewarding profession where helping customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician programs incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the appropriate training and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in American Canyon California.

 

American Canyon Pharmacy Technician Classes | American Canyon Pharmacy Tech Schools