Important Tips for Choosing the Right Pharmacy Technician School

Being a pharmacy technician has many benefits in this economy. With the health industry slated to grow despite economic slowdowns affecting the country, pharmacy technician hopefuls can expect job opportunities to thrive in and around your community.

However, it may still be necessary to get some formal training before applying to a job. Employers are keen to hire people with job skills that are ready-to-go, and are looking for resumes that have either prior training indicated from a previous job, or a certificate course from a formal training school or community college. While many pharmacy technicians are trained “on the job”, this is not always a lucrative option as many employers find the price tag of training too high, and prefer to hire formally educated technicians. You can choose to go to pharmacy technician training either in hospitals, career school, vocational college program or at a local community college.

Look for accreditation:
Even if you’re looking to get your training done through an online pharmacy technician school, accreditation of the course is important! Accreditation differs by state, and also nationally, so looks for accreditation bodies that are relevant to where you are.

Look for job assistance:
Landing a job once you’re done with training is important, so look for schools that offer job assistance. However, don’t kick back your feet and rest because you assume the college is going to do everything for you. Every employer will vouch for the fact that being proactive and taking an active interest in your own career is more likely to get you call backs than waiting for a college recruiter, family friend or old acquaintance to set you up. Schools that offer clerkships or externships (job placement services) establish a resource center, but don’t expect to babysit you through the job finding process.

Look for exam assistance:
Depending on which state you live in, you may require to pass a certification examination to prove that you’ve understood your subjects. Having this certification comes in handy when showing a prospective employer that you have formal education that can serve as a foundation to your work ethics and technical knowledge.
Look for location convenience:

Certification in pharm tech can be easy to obtain, putting in a few hours every day for coursework. Choose a school or training center that is convenient to access, or opt for an online version. The course itself is fairly easy to complete, so look for an online option if you’re looking to start out as a pharm tech for now and don’t have your eyes set on becoming a full-fledged pharmacist.

Look for affordability:
Low tuition payments are offered by some online vocational training school. If you opt to study at a community college, you may be charged by the hour, but can apply for financial aid if you qualify.

Look for accelerated courses:
While pharm tech school can typically take up to 12 months if you go through a community college, it can be completed at an accelerated pace through online programs. It’s one of the perks of studying online; self-pacing a program offers great flexibility and choice.

Author Bio :
Nancy is a 36-year old stay at home mom of two. She worked as a medical assistant for five years before taking a break to be with her children. Her experience as a medical assistant gave her valuable insights in to the medical billing and coding industry, which she likes to share with others through her writing. Medical billing and coding programs often find mention in her writings. Her expertise in medical billing and coding training stems from her extensive research on the subject. Her other interests include gardening and baking. She stays with her husband and two daughters.