Pharmacy Tech School
How to Find the Right One Near Galt California

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Galt CA, you may be pondering how to pick the ideal program to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to locate schools that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. A number of potential students begin by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are important concerns when selecting a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to take a look at several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have many job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Galt CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist guidance
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is a very rewarding career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Diplomas

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 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 certificate or a diploma, which usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Galt CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech programs opt to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, many Galt CA pharmacies will only employ a technician that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online training program, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Galt pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician in order to get some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Galt CA home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online classes might be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the Galt CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Galt residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you need to consider so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges 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). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Galt CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech program should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Galt CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial position in Galt CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Galt CA residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry 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 decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at 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 speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Galt CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Galt

Enroll in the Best Galt Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech programs 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 holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the right training and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Galt California.

 

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