Pharmacy technicians form the foundation of a pharmacy. While pharmacists are vital, the pharmacy technician does the bulk of the day to day work, including processing and filling prescriptions, measuring medication amounts, and organizing inventory. As a result, working as a pharmacy tech includes a lot of responsibility that requires specialized training. Looking to learn more about how you can become a pharmacy technician? Get started with these frequently asked questions about the process and find out how you can earn your degree online.
The trend towards online pharmacy technician training is gaining momentum. Although some people still prefer to learn in a physical classroom setting, online training courses offer a great deal of freedom, especially if you need to keep a flexible schedule due to work or family responsibilities.
An online pharmacy technician school provides you the same educational instruction and gives you the same degree as classroom programs. In addition, online learning lets you learn at your own pace. In other words, if you are already acquainted with a particular topic, you can breeze through that section quickly. On the other hand, if you are having trouble understanding a topic, you can focus on it as much as you need to until you master it.
All reputable online pharmacy technician schools have teachers on hand, both via phone, online, and email, to answer your questions. Even though you are learning independently, you are not alone in the program.
What You Will Be Studying?
Online pharmacy technician courses are often distributed in sections or “modules.” At the end of each of these modules, you typically get an exam; when you pass that exam, the next module is sent to you electronically.
If your program is labeled “distance learning,” you may communicate with your school by mail as well as email or online. In some cases, you might need to attend certain classes that the school specifies, either at their main campus or another convenient location.
Here are some of the topics that you could expect to cover in distance and online pharmacy technician courses:
- Medical Terminology
- Pharmaceutical Calculations & Measurements
- Label and Prescription Information
- Anatomy/Physiology
- Poison/Drug Emergencies
How Can I Get a Pharmacy Technician Degree Online?
Even if you are not the most experiences when it comes to working with computers, your school will alert you all of the system requirements you’ll need to take class, making it easy for you to learn online.
Obviously, becoming a pharmacy technician entails much more than just signing up and completing a program. One of the first things prospective students should do is make sure they have the essential qualities to find success as a pharmacy technician and enjoy that particular type of work.
For instance, pharmacy techs must be extremely detail oriented. If mistakes are made when filling prescriptions for patients, people can die. It is also vital to be organized and be able to multi-task. A pharmacy technician may fill a number of prescriptions all while interacting with customers and answering their questions or directing their issues and concerns to the pharmacist.
Finally, pharmacy technicians need to have very good listening skills. They serve as the first line of interaction between the pharmacy and the customer, so they need to accurately understand the concerns and requests of those who ask questions. Assuming individuals have the qualities to succeed in the pharmacy technology field, it is time to consider the following steps.
How Do I Find Accredited Online Pharmacy Tech Programs?
Choosing the best pharmacy technology program that is right for you can shape your professional future. When choosing a program, be sure to consider several points, a number which have been discussed above. But there are still a few other things to think about when searching for the best online program.
First, check the school’s in-person curriculum requirements. Even though students can be enrolled in an online program where most course requirements can be met remotely at any time during the day, some in-person requirements are likely still in place. Take these requirements into consideration when choosing a program.
Second, check your prospective program’s career services offerings. Graduates can find post-graduate employment without any outside help from their school, however it is certainly a lot easier when a career services office can help you get in touch with contacts at your preferred places of employment and provide job search advice, like resume reviews and mock interviews.
Are There Scholarships and Grants for Pharmacy Technicians?
Scholarships and grants are attractive because they do not need to be paid back like loans do. There are thousands of scholarships and grants available to postsecondary students.
When choosing a school for pharmacy technology, you should make sure the program offered is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. This not only ensures graduates from the program will be able to sit for the applicable certification exam, but it means that students will be eligible for the most financial aid offerings. Practically all financial aid awards are only available to students who attend an accredited academic program.
