University of Alaska, Anchorage
The University of Alaska is located in Anchorage. This is the only traditional brick and mortar school in Alaska that offers pharmacy technician training. They are fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Some programs, including the pharmacy technician program, are also individually accredited through other organizations.
University of Alaska offers an Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Pharmacy Technology. This is a 16 credit certificate program. The courses offered for this certificate include:
· Introduction to Pharmacy
· Pharmacology for Technicians I
· Pharmacy Calculations
· Techniques of Pharmacy Practice
· Pharmacology for Technicians II
· Topics in Pharmacy
Students participating in the Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Pharmacy Technology program are required to earn a minimum of a “C” in all courses. This program is designed to prepare students to work as a pharmacy technician and become certified. The Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Pharmacy Technology program at University of Alaska is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This program is also designed the give students a background to continue further in the field of pharmacology which includes a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
University of Alaska offers both full-time and part-time scheduling. Online classes are also available. Tuition for Alaska residents during the 2011-2012 college year is $154 per credit hour for the pharmacy technician program. Non-residents pay $542 per credit hour. The school gives substantial discounts to students from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. These students pay $231 per credit hour for this certificate program. Other fees apply to all students. These fees range from $49 – $343 and vary depending on several factors.
Online Pharmacy Technician Programs
Many students in Alaska choose to study online. This is due to several factors including harsh weather conditions and rural community development. Many students in Alaska are too far away from The University of Alaska, or any of its community colleges. Even students who live relatively near Anchorage may choose to attend school online simply to avoid traveling on the ice and snow road conditions which are prevalent much of the year. Alaskan students who wish to become trained in pharmacy technology have many online options.
Rasmussen College is a school which offers a pharmacy technician certificate program and associates in science pharmacy technician (AS Pht) program.Rasmussen College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The pharmacy technician program is intended to prepare students for passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). Students who pass this exam become certified pharmacy technicians (CPhT).
The pharmacy technician certificate program can lead the student into the associates in science pharmacy technician (AS Pht) program. This advanced degree allows the student to learn more in-depth pharmacology topics and prepares the students for higher level pharmacy technician careers.
The U.S. Career Institute is a distance learning, or correspondence school. They are accredited by the Distance Education and Training Counsel (DETC) and a member of the Colorado Association of Career Colleges and Schools.
This type of school is designed to allow the student to learn at their own pace. You are shipped a set of books, CDs, and other learning tools. You progress through the lessons at your own pace. When ready, you take the test for each subject. All tests are open-book.
This type of school offers the lowest cost to students. The pharmacy technician certificate program is available for $887, and can be paid with monthly payments of $49. Financial aid such as the Pell Grant, Stafford Loans, Pearson Loans, etc., are not available to cover the costs of this type of school.
Other Online Pharmacy Technician Schools
These are only two examples of the many online study programs available to pharmacy technician students in Alaska. Other schools available include:
When choosing an online school, one should be careful that they choose a school which will provide them with a quality education. You should check to see if the college has any accreditation. Look for schools with nationally recognized accreditation. Because there is no national requirement for education of pharmacy technicians, any certificate, diploma, or degree will help you to look favorable to employers. When you have completed your classes, you can go on to take the PTCB exam and become a certified pharmacy technician.