Pharmacy Tech College
How to Pick the Right One Near Santa Cruz California

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Santa Cruz CA so you can receive the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Naturally the initial step is to locate colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are critical concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation must be evaluated as well. You may also want to look into some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have various job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Santa Cruz CA pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Diplomas and Degrees

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two options to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Santa Cruz CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Santa Cruz CA employers will only hire a technician that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires 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 just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Programs

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online program, it's important to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in a local Santa Cruz pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to get some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Santa Cruz CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, notably for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, 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 best option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech colleges to choose from in the Santa Cruz CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community 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 driving distance from your Santa Cruz residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Santa Cruz CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire 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 prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Santa Cruz CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Santa Cruz CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Santa Cruz CA residence. Those who have decided 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 school that is out of state or even 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 commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical 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 talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Santa Cruz CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Santa Cruz

Enroll in the Right Santa Cruz Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a gratifying occupation where assisting customers with their health is your objective. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech schools incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the right education and determination you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Santa Cruz California.

 

Santa Cruz Pharmacy Technician Classes | Santa Cruz Pharmacy Tech Schools