Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Westmont California

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Westmont CA, you may be pondering how to choose the right school to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you would like to earn. When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important factors when selecting a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to take a look at several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs present 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 approved Westmont 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 furnish a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges elect to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Westmont CA employers will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Before choosing a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local Westmont pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed over the internet in your Westmont CA home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for most students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college 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 study with a less formal type of education, then online classes might be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have determined whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Westmont CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Westmont home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other factors that you must consider so that you may properly compare programs. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Westmont CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement may be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train 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 fulfill the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Westmont CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Westmont CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any help. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Westmont CA home. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble 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 college 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 live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Westmont CA area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. 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 Westmont

Choose the Best Westmont Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. In the past, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". These days, most employers 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. Many pharmacy technician schools include both clinical and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the appropriate education and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Westmont California.

 

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