Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Laramie Wyoming

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Laramie WY, you may be pondering how to select the right school to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to find colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. And if you prefer attending classes at home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, 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 Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have numerous job functions, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Laramie WY pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist guidance
• Add customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is a very satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas 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 generally 2 alternatives to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Laramie WY pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician colleges opt to become certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, many Laramie WY pharmacies will only hire 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, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online school, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in an area Laramie pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to get some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed over the internet in your Laramie WY home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online programs are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online college you are looking at 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 supervised form of education, then online classes might be the best choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Laramie WY area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast 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 Laramie home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you need to consider so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national 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 verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Don't forget to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Laramie WY pharmacies 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 a number of employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification may be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of 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 technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with Laramie WY area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Laramie WY upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without any support. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Laramie WY home. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide 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 often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor 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 pharmacist tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Laramie WY area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Laramie

Enroll in the Right Laramie Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a gratifying occupation where helping people with their health is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician schools include both laboratory and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to choose a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the right training and determination you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Laramie Wyoming.

 

Laramie Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Laramie Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online