Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Carpinteria California

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Carpinteria CA, you may be thinking about how to select the best school to get your education and training. Of course the first step is to find schools that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. Many future students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are significant concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation should be taken into account as well. And if you are interested in studying at home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will cover these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Carpinteria CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills 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 extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medications under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work off-hours is a very gratifying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an accepted Carpinteria CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many Carpinteria CA pharmacies will only employ a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Programs

Before selecting a pharmacy technician online training program, it's important to understand that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in an area Carpinteria pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to receive some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Carpinteria CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, particularly for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Carpinteria CA area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Carpinteria residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you should consider in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Carpinteria CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on 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 an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Carpinteria CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Carpinteria CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Carpinteria CA home. Students who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even 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 live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for 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 classes. 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 talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Carpinteria CA area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Carpinteria

Enroll in the Right Carpinteria Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech schools include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds 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 programs so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Carpinteria California.

 

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