Online pharmacy technician degree field is booming. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pharmacy technicians is set to expand by another 25% between now and 2024. As a result, this has led to an increase in people looking to enter the field as a way to make an impact in their communities and provide for themselves and their families.
However, it isn’t as easy as signing up for the first program you find. There are lots of different factors you need to take into consideration before making that decision. In this blog post, we’ll be going over everything you need to know when considering which option will give you the best return on your investment and leave you with the most opportunities post-graduation.
What to look for in an online pharmacy technician degree program
There are lots of different things you need to consider when choosing an online pharmacy technician degree program. Whether you’re looking to find an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree program. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for your program.
Degree Options
There are two main types of degrees in this field – associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees. Associate’s degrees are more vocational in nature and are designed for students who want to go on to work in a pharmacy right after graduating. On the other hand, bachelor’s degrees are designed for students who want to advance further in their pharmacy technician careers and become pharmacy managers or pharmacists.
The bachelor’s degree is also required to get certification and become a licensed pharmacy technician. Associate’s degree programs usually last two years, while bachelor’s degree programs take three years to complete.
The main difference between the two is that an associate’s degree is designed to get you a job as a pharmacy technician right after graduation. Bachelor’s degree programs, on the other hand, prepare you for greater responsibilities in the field, as well as help you stand out as someone who has a higher chance of getting promoted.
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Which type of degree is right for you?
Associate’s degrees are more focused on the job training aspect of being a pharmacy technician. They’re meant to be taken by people who want to get hired as technicians right after leaving school. For this reason, they have more hands-on work experience. They’re also focused on giving their students the skills they need to excel at the job right away.
Bachelor’s degrees, on the other hand, aren’t as focused on job training. Instead, they help prepare students for more responsibilities in their jobs and advance in the field. They’re also more general programs suited towards people from a variety of backgrounds who want to enter the field of pharmacy.
How much will your degree cost?
The cost of your degree is another important thing to consider when choosing the right program for you. Associate’s degree programs are much cheaper than bachelor’s programs, but they’re also less in-depth and take less time to complete. That being said, they’re also less likely to land you a promotion, so you have to decide whether the cheaper cost is worth it in the long run.
If you’re looking at bachelor’s degree programs, keep in mind that they’re more in-depth and will cost significantly more than associate’s degrees. Taking into account the future earnings potential of both degrees, however, they’re almost always worth the extra cost.
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How to get your Online Degree in Pharmacy Technician?
There is no doubt that online degrees offer many benefits for students. Pharmacy technicians are no exception and can gain the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their field through an online degree. Here are four ways to get your online pharmacy technician degree:
- Start with an accredited school. Many pharmacy technician programs are offered by accredited universities and colleges. Make sure you research which schools have been approved by the Accreditation Commission for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). ACPE is a private, not-for-profit organization that accredits pharmacy programs throughout the United States.
- Consider a distance education program. If you don’t have time to attend an accredited school, consider taking a distance education program. Numerous pharmacy technician programs now offer online courses that you can complete at your own pace. Several reputable providers of online pharmacy technician degrees include EdX, Udacity, and The Learning Company.
- Take a gap year or apprenticeship. If you don’t have time to attend school full time, consider taking a gap year or doing an apprenticeship to gain the skills you need for an online pharmacy technician degree.
How to find the best online pharmacy technician degrees?
Now that you have a better idea of what to look for in a program, you need to start thinking about where you can find them. If you’re looking for an online pharmacy technician degree, you have two main options – traditional colleges and online-only universities. Keep in mind that every school will be different and have different programs to choose from, so you need to do your research to find the best option for you.
Traditional Colleges – Traditional brick-and-mortar colleges are more traditional and have been around for much longer than online-only universities. However, the online component of these programs has grown significantly and is now a valid option for pharmacy technician students. While traditional colleges might have more options, they’re also generally more expensive than online-only universities.
Online-only Universities – Online-only universities are relatively new, and as such, they’re quickly becoming some of the best places to find online pharmacy technician degrees. Their online platforms are also constantly improving and becoming more and more like their traditional counterparts.
Final Words
Choosing the right online pharmacy technician degree program is important if you want to get a job in your field as soon as possible after graduating. With the right program, you can get hired and start building up your career in a relatively short period of time. However, this doesn’t mean that you should just pick the first program you find. You need to make sure that you’re choosing a program that will help you excel in your career and land you the job of your dreams.
