Pharmacy Tech School
How to Pick the Right One Near Poway California

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Poway CA so you can receive the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant concerns when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation should be evaluated as well. You might also want to take a look at several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover 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 certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Poway CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Input 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
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

Due to the nature 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, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is a very satisfying career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Certificates and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Poway CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, many Poway CA employers 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 requirements are that the applicant 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 graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Before choosing a pharmacy tech online school, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local Poway pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed over the internet in your Poway CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials can be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online classes might be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have determined whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to select from in the Poway CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community 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 driving distance from your Poway residence. If you are able to relocate 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 must consider in order to adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a superior education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Poway CA pharmacies 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 pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician school should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This qualification can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Poway CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Poway CA after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, 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 generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Poway CA residence. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech college you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Poway CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Poway

Enroll in the Right Poway Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy technician colleges incorporate both classroom and clinical work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Poway California.

 

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