Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Select the Right One Near East Palo Alto California

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near East Palo Alto CA, you may be thinking about how to choose the right college to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are important concerns when choosing a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes in your 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 need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have many job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed East Palo Alto CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities 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 in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is an extremely satisfying career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 options to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted East Palo Alto CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges choose to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many East Palo Alto CA pharmacies will only employ a technician that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer 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 work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online training program, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local East Palo Alto pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to acquire some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your East Palo Alto CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check 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 structured form of education, then online classes may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

After you have decided whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to choose from in the East Palo Alto CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your East Palo Alto home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration in order to properly compare schools. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded 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 additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it may help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many East Palo Alto CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with East Palo Alto CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial position in East Palo Alto CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any help. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their East Palo Alto CA residence. Students who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry 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 choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally 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 are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician program you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the East Palo Alto CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in East Palo Alto

Choose the Right East Palo Alto Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges include both classroom and clinical training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to choose a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the proper education and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in East Palo Alto California.

 

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