Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Mill Valley California

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Mill Valley CA in order to get the right training to build a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. Naturally the first step is to locate colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. Many potential students begin by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are important concerns when choosing a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers including accreditation and reputation need to be taken into account as well. You may also decide to research a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job functions, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Mill Valley CA pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily services a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

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

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is an extremely satisfying career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally 2 options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Mill Valley CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which usually requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the proper level 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 numerous graduates of pharmacy tech programs elect to become certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, many Mill Valley CA employers will only hire a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Before deciding on a pharmacist technician online school, it's important to realize that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local Mill Valley pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to obtain some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Mill Valley CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, notably for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

Once you have determined whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician schools to select from in the Mill Valley CA area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Mill Valley residence. If you are willing to relocate 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 must consider so that you may properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Mill Valley CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree 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 Mill Valley CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Mill Valley CA after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging task without any help. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, find out 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 demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Mill Valley CA home. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. 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 talk with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist technician college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Mill Valley CA area, confirm 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 need to carry. 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 about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Mill Valley

Choose the Best Mill Valley Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. In the past, most pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech programs incorporate both laboratory and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate education and dedication you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Mill Valley California.

 

Mill Valley Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Mill Valley Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online