How to Enroll In the Right Pharmacy Tech Course Near Northport Alabama

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near NorthportAL, you might be thinking about how to pick the ideal college to get your education and training. Of course the first step is to find schools that offer the certificate or degree that you would like to earn. Many future students start by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation must be considered also. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be part of 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 take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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The Duties of a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, 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 Northport AL pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily services a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared 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 the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work after hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two options to training to be a technician whether 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 offer an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also include an internship at an accepted Northport AL pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacist Tech Certifications

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy tech colleges opt to become certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many Northport AL pharmacies will only employ a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacist Tech Online Colleges

Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online program, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in a local Northport pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to receive some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed online in your Northport AL home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online programs are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online classes may be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy technician schools to choose from in the Northport AL area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Northport residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of 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 colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Northport AL pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through 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 an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Northport Alabama area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Northport AL after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Northport AL residence. Individuals 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 importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even 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 usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical 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 an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Northport AL area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Northport

Find the Best Northport Pharmacy Technician Program

Finding the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech schools incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the best selection. With the appropriate education and determination you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Northport Alabama.

 

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