Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Beaumont Texas

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Beaumont TX, you may be wondering how to select the best college to get your education and training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? A number of future students start by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are critical concerns when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation must be evaluated as well. And if you are interested in studying in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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

Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Beaumont TX pharmacist. They must also have excellent 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 instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is a very gratifying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted Beaumont TX 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 extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to become certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Beaumont TX 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 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate 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 Tech Online Colleges

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to understand that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is typically fulfilled in an area Beaumont pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to receive some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Beaumont TX home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online programs are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online program you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction may be the best choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacist technician schools to pick from in the Beaumont TX area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Beaumont residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations 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 programs 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 as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Beaumont TX employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Beaumont TX area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Beaumont TX upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging task without any help. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Beaumont TX residence. Those who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps 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 usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Beaumont TX area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Beaumont

Choose the Best Beaumont Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. In the past, most pharmacist techs 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 provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy tech schools incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prep 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 evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the right education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Beaumont Texas.

 

Beaumont Pharmacy Technician Classes | Beaumont Pharmacy Tech Schools