Among different growing professions, pharmacy technicians take a prominent position. According to the estimates of U.S Department of Labor Bureau Statistics, by the end of 2020 there will be 32% growth in the job opportunities for the sector. The main job of pharmacy tech is to handle prescriptions. They usually work at retail pharmacies or other similar facilities to help patients with their prescriptions and insurance claims. Across United States, numerous schools offer a diploma or an associate of science degree in this field. In the next section, the top five Pharmacy Technician schools in Las Vegas that offer pharmacy tech programs are listed for potential students who are interested in pursuing formal education in this field.
PIMA Medical Institute
The prestigious PIMA Medical Institute has campuses in seven different states including Nevada. In Nevada, the institute has its campus in the city of Las Vegas. Aspirants even have the option of enrolling in online programs. The pharmacy tech program at the institute is designed to enable students to become certified professionals so they could prepare and verify prescriptions.
In order to do so, students go through a diverse course curriculum that involves studying the following courses:
- Pharmacy Math
- Fundamentals of Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Lab Skills
Along with developing a theoretical knowledge base for students, the institute also focuses on the practical aspects and have made lab work a mandatory part of its program. With well-simulated labs, graduates are sent into the real word with adequate practical experience that helps them to fit in any relevant job role. The overall duration to earn a pharmacy tech certificate from the PIMA institute is 10 months. At the end of the program, students are awarded a diploma certificate from the institute.
It is a nationally accredited certificate that matters the most. Therefore, students are prepared for PTCE and CPhT exams administered by PTCB and NHA respectively. The cost for completion of the program is $12,269, but students are likely to find financial aid through different sources easily. The PIMA institute has a graduation rate of over 83% with 78% of the candidates graduating on time. In terms of employment, the placement rate for the institute’s graduates is 73%.
Website: https://pmi.edu/
Contact: 1.800.477.7462
Kaplan College
The Kaplan College is a school dedicated to healthcare education. The college has over 40 campuses throughout the different states in the United States. The campus in Las Vegas, Nevada is among the best ones to offer a pharmacy technology diploma program. The mission of Kaplan College is to make a difference in people’s lives by educating young people about health and medicine. The Institute has determined the career responsibilities of a pharmacy tech as the following:
- Keeping a history of patient records in a computer database
- Filing insurance claims and dealing with insurance companies
- Effectively managing the inventory and over-the-counter medicines
- Labeling prescriptions and re-packaging medicines
- Verifying prescriptions
In light of the responsibilities mentioned above, Kaplan College has designed its coursework to focus specifically on the career of the candidates. Therefore, throughout the program, students are taught about the following:
- Sterilization Techniques
- Processing Orders
- Software Applications
- Career Development
- Pharmacology
- Health Law and Regulations
With an extensive course outline, students are provided with a sound knowledge of medicine and drug interactions. However, application of this knowledge is extremely important because externships are a mandatory exercise for completion of the program. These serve as training exercises before entering the real world. At the end of the program, graduates earn a diploma certificate from the institute and are ready to take the nationally accredited exams such as PTCE or CPhT. From then on, candidates may start working at pharmacies, hospitals, or other healthcare facilities at entry-level positions.
The program takes about 36 weeks to complete. In total, the students take classes for 800 hours during which they complete a minimum of 57 credit hours. The overall fee for the program is $15,658, which includes any necessary course material. To contact the institute, students could refer to the contact information provided below.
Website: http://www.kaplancollege.com
Contact: 1.800.935.1857
Milan Institute of Cosmetology
The Milan Institute of Cosmetology has several campuses across the United States. Some of its campuses, including the one in Las Vegas, offer pharmacy tech education. The program is designed to prepare students to meet the current surge in demand of technical expertise in retail pharmacies and hospitals. The program establishes a deep understanding of communication between patients and pharmacists by teaching students the following disciplines:
- Pharmacology
- The use of computers in medical sciences
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Customer Services
- Dosage Calculations
- Career Development
- Inventory Management
- Record Keeping
- Medical Math
- Filing insurance claims
Although there are other subjects included in the course work, the ones mentioned above are the most critical ones. In addition, students are required to take part in internships and externships at retail pharmacies to graduate. Graduates are prepared to take the nationwide accredited exams to establish their credibility. Upon completion of their studies, candidates can move on to work in different health care facilities in entry level positions. The duration of the program depends on the students, as they are required to complete a certain number of credit hours. Depending on their pace, they could finish the program in as few as 10 – 12 months.
Website: http://www.milaninstitute.edu
Contact: 1.888.207.9460
College of Southern Nevada
The College of Southern Nevada has two of its main campuses in Las Vegas and one in Henderson. Besides the three main campuses, it also has seven extension sites spread across the state of Nevada. The campuses at Las Vegas have a pharmacy tech education program that focuses mainly on the following tasks:
- Preparing additive solutions for injections
- Filling patient medication drawers and delivering pre-packaged doses
- Providing assistance in managing the inventory and distributing controlled drugs
- Calculating medical charges
- Responding to any patients’ queries
- Filing for insurance claims and following up with insurance companies
The college has a program that goes on for one year. However, there is only a limited number of seats, and candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria. The maximum number of students taken into Pharmacy tech education is 25, and only ones who are above 18 years of age can apply for it. The college starts this program twice a year, which provides candidates with two chances in a year for application. In addition, it is mandatory to provide a proof of high school education to be enlisted. In total, students are required to complete 38 credits, each of which costs $90. The overall tuition fee rounds up to $3,420. However, the cost of books, lab equipment, uniforms, and medical insurance as well as some different examinations are not included in the tuition fee. The coursework is designed to match the tasks mentioned above and includes the following subjects:
- Intro to Pharmacy Practice
- Oral Communication
- Medical Terminology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy Techniques
- Human Relations
- Externships
Following the completion of all the courses, students are awarded a diploma certificate after which they are prepared to appear for exams such as the PTCE or CPhT. Such certifications may provide significant aid in finding jobs at hospitals, pharmacies, medicine manufacturing, mail service, or other areas. In other words, the program prepares students to work in all kinds of medical environments. For the ones interested in Pharmacy Tech education, the admissions of the college open in June and in November.
Website: http://www.csn.edu
Contact: 1.702.650.2276 (24 Hour Automated System), 1.702.651.5555