Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Select the Best One Near Stanford California

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Stanford CA, you may be wondering how to pick the ideal college to get your education and training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? A number of prospective students begin by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are significant concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you are interested in attending classes at home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Stanford CA pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding medications or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is a very fulfilling career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Stanford CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which usually takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Stanford CA pharmacies will only employ a tech that has earned certification. 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, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online school, it's important to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in a local Stanford pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to obtain some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Stanford CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online school you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online training might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

After you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the Stanford CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Stanford residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in getting 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 many Stanford CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

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

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in Stanford CA after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting task without some support. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Stanford CA home. 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 area internships will be of concern. One thing 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Stanford CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Stanford

Enroll in the Right Stanford Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to choose a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the proper training and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Stanford California.

 

Stanford Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Stanford Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online