Pharmacy Tech School
How to Select the Best One Near Chatsworth California

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Chatsworth CA, you might be thinking about just how to pick the best school to get your education and training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately pick the right one? A number of prospective students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are important concerns when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You may also decide to look into some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two options to training to be a tech 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 offer an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Chatsworth CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech programs elect to get certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Chatsworth CA pharmacies will only employ 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 just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online school, it's important to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in a local Chatsworth pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often 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 over the internet in your Chatsworth CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, notably for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the ideal solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Chatsworth CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Chatsworth home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you need to consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to check 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. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Chatsworth CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to ready 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 satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

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

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Chatsworth CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Chatsworth CA home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? 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 smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few 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 need to verify that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Chatsworth CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Chatsworth

Choose the Right Chatsworth Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting people with their wellness is your objective. In the past, many pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician schools include both clinical and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the best selection. With the right education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Chatsworth California.

 

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