Pharmacy Tech College
How to Enroll In the Best One Near San Rafael California

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near San Rafael CA, you may be pondering just how to pick the right program to receive your education and training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are important concerns when deciding on a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two options to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved San Rafael CA pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, a number of San Rafael CA employers will only employ a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Programs Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online college, it's important to understand that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in a local San Rafael pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician in order to receive some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be taken over the internet in your San Rafael CA home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the right solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you would like to attain 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 target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the San Rafael CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your San Rafael home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you need to consider in order to effectively compare schools. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and trade 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 complete quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many San Rafael CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with San Rafael CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in San Rafael CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any support. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement 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 field generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their San Rafael CA residence. Students who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the San Rafael CA area, make certain that they are available. 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 procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in San Rafael

Choose the Best San Rafael Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the best pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping customers with their health is your mission. In the past, most pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist tech programs include both classroom and clinical work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prep 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 schools so that you are certain to make the best selection. With the proper education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in San Rafael California.

 

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