Pharmacy Tech College
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Discovery Bay California

Having decided to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Discovery Bay CA, you may be thinking about just how to select the ideal college to receive your education and training. Of course the initial step is to locate schools that offer the degree or diploma that you would like to earn. Many potential students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are critical factors when selecting a school, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You may also want to look into a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have multiple job functions, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Discovery Bay CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is a very gratifying career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as 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 trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Discovery Bay CA pharmacy or similar 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 offer a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician colleges opt to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many Discovery Bay CA pharmacies will only employ a tech 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 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online program, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in a local Discovery Bay pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to get some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Discovery Bay CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, especially for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials can be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify 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 learn with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction may be the best option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Discovery Bay CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Discovery Bay residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you should consider in order to properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Discovery Bay CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to prep 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 entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with Discovery Bay CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in Discovery Bay CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting task without some support. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Discovery Bay CA residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? 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 likely want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors 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 pharmacy tech program you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Discovery Bay CA area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Discovery Bay

Choose the Right Discovery Bay Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the best pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where helping people with their wellness is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist technician schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory work. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to select a college that is accredited and will prep 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 schools so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Discovery Bay California.

 

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