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

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Norwalk CA in order to receive the right training to begin a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical factors when deciding on a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation must be evaluated also. And if you are interested in studying at home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Norwalk CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology 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 situation should they ever give medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician might perform are:

• Receive and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two alternatives to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Norwalk CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which usually takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges choose to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many Norwalk CA pharmacies will only employ a tech 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 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 may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Programs

Prior to selecting a pharmacist technician online training program, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in a local Norwalk pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to obtain some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Norwalk CA home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online programs are sometimes less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online program you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online classes may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

Once you have determined whether you would like to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Norwalk CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Norwalk residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired 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 evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Norwalk CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Norwalk CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in Norwalk CA upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Norwalk CA home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Norwalk CA area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Norwalk

Enroll in the Right Norwalk Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech programs incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the appropriate training and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Norwalk California.

 

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