Pharmacy Tech College
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Walnut Park California

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Walnut Park CA, you might be wondering just how to choose the best program to get your education and training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? A number of potential students begin by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are critical concerns when selecting a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account as well. And if you prefer attending classes in your home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then finding an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have numerous job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Walnut Park CA pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice regarding medications or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily duties a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Enter prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature 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 reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is a very rewarding career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an accepted Walnut Park CA pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which usually takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges opt to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Walnut Park CA pharmacies will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which can be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Prior to choosing a pharmacist tech online training program, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in a local Walnut Park pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Walnut Park CA home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, especially for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, such as 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 may be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to obtain 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 pharmacist technician programs to select from in the Walnut Park CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Walnut Park residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare schools. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have obtained 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 evaluated and certified to offer a complete superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Walnut Park CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician school should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This condition may be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train 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 satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Walnut Park CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first job in Walnut Park CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any support. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Walnut Park 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. One thing to bear 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 may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical 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 decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Walnut Park CA area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Walnut Park

Enroll in the Right Walnut Park Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the ideal pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to starting your career in a gratifying occupation where assisting customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech colleges incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important 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 evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the right training and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Walnut Park California.

 

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