Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Find the Best One Near Santa Cruz California

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Santa Cruz CA, you may be thinking about how to choose the ideal college to receive your education and training. Of course the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have many job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Santa Cruz CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice relating to medications or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily services a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two 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 typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an accepted Santa Cruz CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to become certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Santa Cruz CA employers will only employ a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online training program, it's important to realize that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in a local Santa Cruz pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to receive some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Santa Cruz CA home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, notably for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials can be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training might be the best solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have decided whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Santa Cruz CA area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Santa Cruz residence. If you are able 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 must take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have earned a regional or national 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 certified to offer a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be 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 sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it might help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Santa Cruz CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician school should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Santa Cruz CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Santa Cruz CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any support. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Santa Cruz CA residence. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want 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 instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Santa Cruz CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check 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 might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Santa Cruz

Choose the Best Santa Cruz Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to starting your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting customers with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech schools include both clinical and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the appropriate education and determination you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Santa Cruz California.

 

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