Pharmacy Tech School
How to Find the Right One Near Sunnyvale California

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Sunnyvale CA so you can receive the right training to build a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. Usually the first step is to find colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. A number of future students begin by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are important factors when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer studying at home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifications and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Sunnyvale CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Sunnyvale CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy tech colleges choose to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Sunnyvale CA pharmacies will only hire 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 completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Online

Before deciding on a pharmacist tech online training program, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Sunnyvale pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Sunnyvale CA home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while attaining their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs 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 colleges are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online training might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have decided whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Sunnyvale CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Sunnyvale home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other issues that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Sunnyvale CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with Sunnyvale CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Sunnyvale CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any support. Ask if the schools you are reviewing 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 school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Sunnyvale CA home. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller 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 classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Sunnyvale CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Sunnyvale

Enroll in the Best Sunnyvale Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a gratifying profession where assisting people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech colleges include both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to select a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the right choice. With the proper education and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Sunnyvale California.

 

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