Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Select the Best One Near Lompoc California

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Lompoc CA, you may be pondering just how to select the best program to get your education and training. Usually the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are critical factors when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also choose to take a look at several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have various job duties, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Lompoc CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Enter prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is an extremely satisfying career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 alternatives to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Lompoc CA pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges opt to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Lompoc CA pharmacies will only employ a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer 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 one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Programs Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in a local Lompoc pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician so as to acquire some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Lompoc CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online programs are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are considering 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 formal type of education, then online classes may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician schools to choose from in the Lompoc CA area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Lompoc home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are several other variables that you should take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Lompoc CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech school should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This qualification may be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Lompoc CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Lompoc CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without any support. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Lompoc CA residence. Students 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 consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Lompoc CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Lompoc

Enroll in the Best Lompoc Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the best pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where helping customers with their wellness is your mission. In the past, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of 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. The majority of pharmacy tech colleges include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the right education and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Lompoc California.

 

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