The Importance of Finding an Accredited Pharmacy Tech School
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If you’ve decided to train for a career as a pharmacy technician, you’ve chosen a field with tremendous growth potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of pharmacy technicians is forecasted to increase 31 percent by the year 2018. Employment opportunities will be greatest for individuals with formal training and certification. Enrolling in an accredited pharmacy tech school is the best way to ensure you are considered for the most lucrative opportunities.
But first you need to find an accredited school. Whether you choose a traditional brick and mortar classroom or one of the online pharmacy tech schools, accreditation is important. Accredited pharmacy tech schools must meet the rigorous educational requirements of organizations such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
The ASHP, a professional membership organization with over 35,000 members, developed its accreditation program when ASHP member pharmacists, pharmacy techs and students noticed an increased need for standardization and quality assurance in pharmacy technician training programs.
ASHP accredited pharmacy technician schools are required to offer training programs of at least 600 hours of training time spread out over at least 15 weeks. Training time must include didactic, laboratory, and experiential training. Hands-on laboratory exercises and training in computer record keeping are essential. Experiential training should be conducted in at least two different practice settings. Accredited training programs must prove that they satisfy 35 educational goals as set forth by the ASHP.
Other organizations accrediting pharmacy technician training programs include: the Accrediting Commision of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSCT), the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), and the Council on Occupational Education (COE). The accreditation requirements for each organization can be found at their websites.
When you enroll in an accredited pharmacy tech school, you are virtually guaranteed the best education available in the field. While training at accredited pharmacy tech schools is not required for certification or licensing by most states, employers often see graduates of accredited programs as more desirable. Accredited training program graduates generally have more in-depth knowledge to draw from as well as hands-on experience – making them easier to train and requiring less supervision. These characteristics translate to greater employment opportunities and possibly even higher starting salaries.
If you were wondering how to become a pharmacy tech, you now know that finding an accredited program, whether one of the online pharmacy tech schools or a traditional brick and mortar classroom, is your first step. To learn more about what to expect in a career as a pharmacy technician, including how to get the highest wages and options for paying for your education, please peruse our other articles.
