Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Ridgecrest California

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Ridgecrest CA so you can get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. Naturally the first step is to find colleges that offer the certificate or degree that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important factors when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation need to be evaluated also. And if you are interested in studying at home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Ridgecrest CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily services a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is a very rewarding career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two alternatives to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Ridgecrest 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 offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to get certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many Ridgecrest CA employers will only employ a technician 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 candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Before choosing a pharmacy tech online school, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area Ridgecrest pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to receive some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed over the internet in your Ridgecrest CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online training might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to select from in the Ridgecrest CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Ridgecrest home. If you are able to move 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 effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Ridgecrest 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 every state, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This requirement may be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Ridgecrest CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial position in Ridgecrest CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting task without any support. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Ridgecrest CA residence. Students 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 importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide 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 normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Ridgecrest CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Ridgecrest

Enroll in the Right Ridgecrest Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the right pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to starting your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping people with their wellness is your mission. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician colleges incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to enroll in a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the proper education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Ridgecrest California.

 

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