Pharmacy Tech College
How to Choose the Right One Near Palm Desert California

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Palm Desert CA so you can get the right training to build a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Of course the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. You may also decide to research several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have many job responsibilities, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Palm Desert CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Add prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is a very rewarding career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two alternatives to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational 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 facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an approved Palm Desert CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally involves about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Palm Desert CA pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. 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 completed 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 examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to understand that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in an area Palm Desert pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to obtain some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your Palm Desert CA home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online programs are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials can be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training might be the right solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Palm Desert CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Palm Desert residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Palm Desert CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Palm Desert CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Palm Desert CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some help. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Palm Desert CA home. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even 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 generally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Palm Desert CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Palm Desert

Enroll in the Right Palm Desert Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech colleges include both clinical and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to select a program that is accredited and will prep 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 schools so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Palm Desert California.

 

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