Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Choose the Best One Near Whittier California

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Whittier CA, you may be pondering just how to pick the best program to get your education and training. Usually the first step is to locate colleges that offer the certificate or degree that you are interested in. A number of potential students start by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are critical concerns when choosing a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers including accreditation and reputation should be considered as well. You may also decide to research some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have many job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Whittier CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the common daily services a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Greet and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Whittier CA pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 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 amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech programs choose to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, many Whittier CA pharmacies will only employ a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by both programs, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online school, it's important to understand that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in a local Whittier pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to get some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken online in your Whittier CA home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials can 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 essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that any online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance 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 might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacist technician schools to pick from in the Whittier CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Whittier residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Whittier CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Whittier CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Whittier CA upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some assistance. 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 college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their Whittier CA residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps 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 to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician school you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Whittier CA area, check that they are available. 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 need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Whittier

Enroll in the Best Whittier Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding occupation where helping people with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician colleges include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the proper education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Whittier California.

 

Whittier Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Whittier Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online