Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near San Dimas California

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near San Dimas CA so you can receive the right training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant concerns when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including reputation and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. You may also decide to research a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have many job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed San Dimas CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily services a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two alternatives to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted San Dimas CA pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to get certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of San Dimas CA pharmacies will only employ a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished 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 required every 2 years by each program, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Programs

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in a local San Dimas pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your San Dimas CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online schools are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the best choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician schools to select from in the San Dimas CA area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational 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 San Dimas residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you should take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many San Dimas CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied with 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 tech degree or certificate 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 associations with San Dimas CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in San Dimas CA after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult task without some help. 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 college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their San Dimas CA residence. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. 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 School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the San Dimas CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in San Dimas

Enroll in the Best San Dimas Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping people with their health is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist technician schools incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to enroll in a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the right choice. With the appropriate training and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in San Dimas California.

 

San Dimas Pharmacy Technician Certificate | San Dimas Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online