Pharmacy Tech College
How to Find the Right One Near Pacific Grove California

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Pacific Grove CA, you might be wondering how to pick the ideal college to receive your education and training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are critical concerns when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also choose to look into several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have many job functions, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Pacific Grove CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Receive and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit 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 payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is a very gratifying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally 2 alternatives to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Pacific Grove CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech programs elect to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Pacific Grove CA employers will only hire a technician that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are 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 only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Before selecting a pharmacy technician online program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in a local Pacific Grove pharmacy or hospital by means of 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 may be accessed online in your Pacific Grove CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online programs are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials may be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that each online program you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as 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 might be the right option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Pacific Grove CA area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Pacific Grove home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech 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). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it may help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Pacific Grove 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 every state, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician school should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Pacific Grove CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Pacific Grove CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are looking at 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 profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Pacific Grove CA residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program 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 commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Pacific Grove CA area, check that they are available. 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 have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Pacific Grove

Choose the Right Pacific Grove Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a gratifying occupation where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech programs include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the proper education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Pacific Grove California.

 

Pacific Grove Pharmacy Technician Schools | Pacific Grove Pharmacy Technician Training