Pharmacy Tech College
How to Pick the Best One Near Hollister California

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Hollister CA, you may be wondering how to pick the best college to receive your education and training. Of course the initial step is to locate schools that offer the certificate or degree that you would like to earn. Many prospective students begin by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are important concerns when selecting a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation must be evaluated as well. And if you prefer attending classes in your home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have various job functions, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Hollister CA pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may help customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice relating to medications or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily functions a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Add customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is a very rewarding career helping people 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 generally 2 alternatives to training to be 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 usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted Hollister CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician colleges elect to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, many Hollister CA pharmacies will only employ a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that provide 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 professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Before choosing a pharmacist tech online school, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in an area Hollister pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to receive some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Hollister CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, notably for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials can be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online college you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have decided whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician schools to choose from in the Hollister CA area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Hollister home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare colleges. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it might help in getting financial aid 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 Hollister CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician school should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Hollister CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Hollister CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without some support. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Hollister CA home. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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 Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Hollister CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Hollister

Choose the Best Hollister Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping customers with their health is your mission. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy technician colleges include both clinical and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's important 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 colleges so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the proper education and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Hollister California.

 

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