Pharmacy Tech College
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Redondo Beach California

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Redondo Beach CA, you might be pondering just how to select the best college to get your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of future students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are important factors when choosing a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation should be evaluated also. You may also decide to research several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have numerous job functions, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Redondo Beach 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 medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily services a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer technicians with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is a very fulfilling career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 alternatives to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Redondo Beach CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Redondo Beach CA pharmacies will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Colleges

Prior to selecting a pharmacy tech online school, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in a local Redondo Beach pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to receive some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Redondo Beach CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online school you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance 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 right choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Redondo Beach CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Redondo Beach residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Redondo Beach 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 mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program should prepare 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 taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Redondo Beach CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Redondo Beach CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without some help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Redondo Beach CA residence. 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 local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Redondo Beach CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Redondo Beach

Choose the Best Redondo Beach Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their health is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech colleges incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate education and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Redondo Beach California.

 

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