Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Santa Rosa California

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Santa Rosa CA, you may be pondering just how to select the right program to get your education and training. Naturally the first step is to locate schools that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You may also want to take a look at some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two alternatives to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Santa Rosa CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

Certification is not required in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy tech colleges elect to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Santa Rosa 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 requirements are that the candidate be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in an area Santa Rosa pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to receive some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken online in your Santa Rosa CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, particularly for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online programs are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online program you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online classes might be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have determined whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy technician colleges to select from in the Santa Rosa CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Santa Rosa home. 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 many other factors that you need to consider in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you get a superior education, it may assist 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 Santa Rosa CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This qualification may be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Santa Rosa CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Santa Rosa CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Santa Rosa CA residence. Individuals who have decided 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 concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Santa Rosa CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol 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 Santa Rosa

Choose the Right Santa Rosa Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the best pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech schools include both classroom and clinical work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the right training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Santa Rosa California.

 

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