Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Stanton California

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Stanton CA so you can get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important concerns when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer 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 address these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Stanton CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily functions a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Enter customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are prepared 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 standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is a very satisfying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Stanton CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech programs elect to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Stanton CA pharmacies will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, 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 exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacist technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in a local Stanton pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to receive some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Stanton CA home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online classes may be the ideal solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Stanton CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Stanton home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you need to consider so that you may adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of 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 comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Stanton 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 required in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This requirement can be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Stanton CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Stanton CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any support. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Stanton CA residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble 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 perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical 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 decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Stanton CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Stanton

Enroll in the Right Stanton Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the ideal pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician programs include both classroom and laboratory training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the right education and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Stanton California.

 

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