How to Choose the Right Pharmacy Technician Program Near Alexander City Alabama

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Alexander CityAL, you may be thinking about how to select the ideal college to get your education and training. Of course the first step is to locate schools that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. Many prospective students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important concerns when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account as well. And if you are interested in studying at home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will cover these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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

The Duties of a Pharmacy Tech

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Alexander City AL pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

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

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work after hours is a very fulfilling career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 alternatives to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Alexander City AL pharmacy or other 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 provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Available Certifications

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to get certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, a number of Alexander City AL pharmacies will only hire a tech that is certified. 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 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 mandated every two years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacist Tech Online Programs

Prior to selecting a pharmacy tech online college, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in an area Alexander City pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to obtain some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Alexander City AL home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online college you are considering 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 instruction may be the best choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacist Technician Colleges

After you have decided whether you want to earn 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 target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech colleges to select from in the Alexander City AL area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Alexander City home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you must consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacist Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Don't forget to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it might assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Alexander City AL pharmacies 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 many pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement may be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Alexander City Alabama area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Alexander City AL upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Alexander City AL home. Students who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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 Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech program you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Alexander City AL area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Alexander City

Enroll in the Best Alexander City Pharmacy Technician Program

Finding the ideal pharmacist tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist tech schools incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to select a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and dedication you can realize your goal of becoming a pharmacy tech in Alexander City Alabama.

 

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