Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Chino California

Having made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Chino CA, you might be pondering how to pick 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. When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are critical factors when selecting a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. And if you are interested in studying in your home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

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 Chino CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the common daily duties a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Enter prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is a very gratifying career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Chino CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally involves 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. Either program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech colleges opt to get certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Chino CA employers will only employ 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 applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Colleges

Before selecting a pharmacist technician online school, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Chino pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to get some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Chino CA home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, notably for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online college you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction may be the best choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

Once you have decided whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacist technician schools to select from in the Chino CA area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Chino home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other factors that you must consider so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online programs may also obtain 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 together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Chino CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician 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 a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Chino CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Chino CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting task without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Chino CA residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide 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 often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final 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 tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Chino CA area, check 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 need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Chino

Enroll in the Right Chino Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting customers with their health is your mission. In the past, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to choose a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the appropriate education and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Chino California.

 

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