Pharmacy Tech School
How to Pick the Right One Near Pleasant Hill California

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Pleasant Hill CA so you can receive the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. Naturally the first step is to find schools that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. A number of potential students begin by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when selecting a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Pleasant Hill CA pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily duties a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs 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 at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely satisfying career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Pleasant Hill CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Pleasant Hill CA pharmacies will only hire a technician 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 applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every two years by each program, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacist tech online training program, it's important to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area Pleasant Hill pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to get some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken online in your Pleasant Hill CA home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for most students, especially for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online programs are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials can be reduced 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 certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example 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 best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have determined whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to select from in the Pleasant Hill CA area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Pleasant Hill home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to provide a complete quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance 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 Pleasant Hill CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Pleasant Hill CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in Pleasant Hill CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some support. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Pleasant Hill CA residence. Students who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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 sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit 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 want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech program you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Pleasant Hill CA area, check 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 have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol 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 Pleasant Hill

Enroll in the Best Pleasant Hill Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the right pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their health is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician programs include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the appropriate education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Pleasant Hill California.

 

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