Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Rock Springs Wyoming

Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Rock Springs WY so you can get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Usually the initial step is to find schools that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are important concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes in your home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have many job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Rock Springs WY pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may assist 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 concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 options to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Rock Springs WY pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician colleges choose to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Rock Springs WY employers will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide 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 professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online college, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local Rock Springs pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to receive some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Rock Springs WY home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, particularly for those who keep working while earning their certificate or degree. And online programs are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and study 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 securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, 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 pharmacy technician programs to select from in the Rock Springs WY area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Rock Springs home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it might assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Rock Springs WY pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Rock Springs WY area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Rock Springs WY upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any help. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Rock Springs WY home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. 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 commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some 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 pharmacist tech program you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Rock Springs WY area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Rock Springs

Enroll in the Right Rock Springs Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting customers with their health is your mission. Traditionally, many pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to choose a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate training and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Rock Springs Wyoming.

 

Rock Springs Pharmacy Technician Training | Rock Springs Pharmacy Technician Courses