Pharmacy Tech School
How to Choose the Right One Near Antelope California

Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Antelope CA in order to get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? A number of 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 significant factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. You may also want to take a look at a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Antelope CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply 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 weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is a very satisfying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

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 basically 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 normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Antelope CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to become certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, many Antelope CA pharmacies will only employ a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer 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 at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Before selecting a pharmacist technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is typically fulfilled in an area Antelope pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to get some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your Antelope CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, especially for those who continue to work while attaining their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials can be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online college you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction may be the ideal solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Antelope CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Antelope residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance 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 Antelope CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Antelope CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Antelope CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Antelope CA residence. Individuals who have decided 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 importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose 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 generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician college you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Antelope CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Antelope

Choose the Right Antelope Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their health is your mission. In the past, many pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy tech schools include both clinical and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a program 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 follow our other tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the proper education and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Antelope California.

 

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