Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Find the Right One Near Simi Valley California

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Simi Valley CA, you might be pondering just how to pick the right program to receive your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the best one? Many potential students begin by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are critical concerns when selecting a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account also. You may also want to look into some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address 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 degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Simi Valley CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially 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 rewarding career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two options to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Simi Valley CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech colleges elect to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many Simi Valley CA employers will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Colleges

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online training program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Simi Valley pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to receive some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Simi Valley CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, especially for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online schools are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the right solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech colleges to choose from in the Simi Valley CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Simi Valley home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other issues that you need to consider in order to adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Simi Valley CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition may be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Simi Valley CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first job in Simi Valley CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Simi Valley CA home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. 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 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 live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. 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 speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician college you finally pick can furnish 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 Simi Valley CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Simi Valley

Choose the Best Simi Valley Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding occupation where helping customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech colleges include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to choose a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the right training and dedication you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Simi Valley California.

 

Simi Valley Pharmacy Tech Schools Online | Simi Valley Pharmacy Technician Certificate