Pharmacy Tech School
How to Select the Best One Near Woodcrest California

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Woodcrest CA, you might be wondering how to pick the right college to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? Many potential students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are significant concerns when selecting a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation should be taken into account also. You may also choose to research a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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

Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Woodcrest CA pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician might perform are:

• Receive and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work off-hours is an extremely satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 alternatives to training to be a technician 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 different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Woodcrest CA pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, many Woodcrest CA pharmacies will only employ a technician 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 candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by both programs, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Before deciding on a pharmacist technician online training program, it's important to realize that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually fulfilled in an area Woodcrest pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy technician in order to acquire some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed over the internet in your Woodcrest CA home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials can be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized 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 may be the ideal solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician programs to select from in the Woodcrest CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Woodcrest home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you need to consider in order to properly compare schools. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Woodcrest CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied through 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 tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with Woodcrest CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Woodcrest CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Woodcrest CA residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school 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 often charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Woodcrest CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Woodcrest

Enroll in the Right Woodcrest Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the ideal pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting people with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician schools incorporate both classroom and clinical work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the right choice. With the appropriate training and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Woodcrest California.

 

Woodcrest Pharmacy Technician Training | Woodcrest Pharmacy Technician Courses