Pharmacy Tech School
How to Select the Best One Near Sheridan Wyoming

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Sheridan WY in order to get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You might also choose to take a look at some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. 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 take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have numerous job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Sheridan WY pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may assist 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 relating to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily duties a pharmacy technician might perform are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two alternatives to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Sheridan WY pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Sheridan WY employers will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, 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 applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Schools

Before choosing a pharmacist technician online college, it's important to understand that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in an area Sheridan pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to obtain some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Sheridan WY home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, notably for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online programs are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online program you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online classes may be the ideal solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer 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 programs to choose from in the Sheridan WY area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Sheridan residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration so that you may adequately compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to provide a complete quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it might help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Sheridan WY pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Sheridan WY area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Sheridan WY after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some help. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication 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 pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Sheridan WY residence. Students who have opted to attend online classes obviously 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 consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at 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 final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Sheridan WY area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Sheridan

Enroll in the Right Sheridan Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting people with their health is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy tech programs incorporate both classroom and laboratory work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to choose a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Sheridan Wyoming.

 

Sheridan Pharmacy Technician Classes | Sheridan Pharmacy Tech Schools