Pharmacy Tech College
How to Select the Best One Near Burbank California

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Burbank CA in order to receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. Of course the initial step is to locate schools that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. Many future students begin by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are significant factors when deciding on a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including reputation and accreditation should be considered as well. And if you prefer attending classes in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have various job duties, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Burbank CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice regarding medications or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 options to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Burbank CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to get certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, a number of Burbank CA employers 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 requirements are that the candidate be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online training program, it's necessary to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in a local Burbank pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Burbank CA home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online training might be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have determined whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Burbank CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Burbank residence. If you are able to move 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 variables that you should consider in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Burbank CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification can be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of 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 degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Burbank CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Burbank CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any support. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Burbank CA residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several 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 must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Burbank CA area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Burbank

Enroll in the Right Burbank Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the best pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. 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 vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician schools include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to select a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the right choice. With the appropriate training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Burbank California.

 

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