Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Westmont California

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Westmont CA, you may be wondering just how to select the best college to get your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical factors when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You might also want to research a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have multiple job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Westmont 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 medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Enter prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs 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 payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work after hours is a very gratifying career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Certificates and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two alternatives to training to be 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 completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an approved Westmont CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy tech colleges elect to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Westmont CA pharmacies will only hire a tech 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 applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Before choosing a pharmacist technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local Westmont pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to get some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Westmont CA home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for most students, notably for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online program you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online classes may be the best choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician schools to pick from in the Westmont CA area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Westmont residence. 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 several other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Don't forget to verify 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 receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Westmont CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of employers desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Westmont CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Westmont CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any support. Find out if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their Westmont CA home. Students who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider 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 commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech college you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Westmont CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Westmont

Enroll in the Best Westmont Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their wellness is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist technician programs include both classroom and laboratory 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 classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the right training and commitment you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Westmont California.

 

Westmont How To Become A Pharmacy Tech | Westmont Pharmacy Tech Certificate