The National Technical Honor Society’s mission is to honor student achievement and leadership, promote educational excellence, and enhance career opportunities for its members.

In the very near future, Ayers Career College will recognize some of their most outstanding students when the first group of graduates are inducted into the honor society. Stay tuned for pictures from the upcoming event in February!

For more info on the National Technical Honor Society, you can download their brochure here.

Over the next 25 years the number of pharmacy technicians in America is expected to increase between 25 percent and 35 percent. There are many factors leading to the expected increase, including an aging population and an increase in access to medical care and health insurance.

The development of new drugs and the improved affordability of medication by average citizens have also led to an increased need in pharmacy technicians at hospitals, pharmacies and clinics across the country. This makes the pharmacy technician field one of the fastest growing job sectors in the country and can provide job seekers with a new and fulfilling career.

It used to be that most pharmacy technicians could be hired as interns and trained by their company under the supervision of a head pharmacist. But with the rapid demand of pharmacist technician services, more and more hospitals, pharmacies, rehabilitation centers and clinics no longer have the time to provide on the job training. Companies need pharmacy technicians quickly and they need technicians that have a solid understanding of the field and the multiple tasks required.

Most employers today are looking for workers that have completed a pharmacy technician training program, like the one at Ayers Career College. The job description of a pharmacy technician often includes an understanding of corporate policies, strong customer service, knowledge of prescription drug regulations and the ability to adapt. That is why companies are often looking for pharmacy technicians that have strong training and are ready to hit the ground running without the need for entry level or introductory training.

A normal day for a pharmacy technician includes labeling medicine bottles, counting and mixing medication and receiving prescription requests. Pharmacy technicians must also have knowledge of their particular company’s pricing structure for medication and understand how to incorporate insurance policies when billing a patient. But there are also a variety of administrative tasks involved, including assisting the pharmacist, processing billing and insurance forms and overseeing cash transactions at the register.

As with any industry, the average pay for a pharmacy technician varies depending on experience, training and education.  Completing a pharmacy technician program is often the best way to secure employment and get a job that pays at the hirer end of the salary scale.

Pharmacy technicians are in demand and will continue to be for many years to come. The need for medical care will only continue to grow and the role of medication in medical treatment is also on the rise, making the job of a pharmacy technician one to consider for those looking to enter a strong field.

However, places looking to hire pharmacy technicians are looking for more than just technical knowledge. They want well-rounded individuals that not only know how to read prescription labels and drug information, but can work well with patients and customers that have questions, concerns and comments.

Today’s pharmacy technicians are required to multitask and customers have a lot of expectations when they come into the pharmacy, many of which were not in the job description just a few decades ago. Today’s pharmacy technicians are required to be knowledgeable about insurance information, handle store coupons, enforce federal drug guidelines and work as cashiers.

There is also a customer service component to being a pharmacy technician because customers will often poise questions they have about their medication, including known side effects, dosage levels and benefits of a particular drug over another.

Another way to think of a pharmacy technician is as a bridge between the pharmacist and the customer. A pharmacy technician mixes, re-packages, labels and delivers drugs to patients. They may also have to look up important information on the computer to relay to customers and patients.

Ayers Career College’s Pharmacy Technician training program covers the technical side of the job, as well as the customer aspect that requires passing down important information to concerned patients.

But for every doctor and nurse that treats a person in a hospital bed of physician’s office there are several other workers handling the billing portion of the business. That means the medical billing and coding industry can provide a stable career for those looking to enter a new line of work.

The baby boomer generation is becoming more elderly and that means they will need more health care and medical coverage. The average lifespan in America is also growing; another factor that will lead to more demand from the health care industry to provide care to America’s aging population.

The health care industry is also experiencing an increase in technology and the expansion of online medical records that will lead to more discoveries of illness and disease, thus leading to more treatment and more visits to doctor offices and hospital specialist.

At Ayers Career College students are trained to become medical billing and coding specialist in a hospital, physician’s office, nursing home, or physical therapy clinic. Ayers Career College also offers an online version of the Medical Billing and Coding program.

In a world with an uncertain future, health care is a constant because there will always be a need to provide medical care for America’s citizens, which is a group that is growing and becoming more dependent on medical care.

According to a recent survey by Johnson Controls, cutting costs through energy saving HVAC systems is considered important by at least 80 percent of building owners/contractors. Those survey results demonstrate the important role professional trained HVAC technicians will play in the coming years as more and more builders turn to HVAC technicians that have a strong knowledge on building the type of systems that can help cut costs and improve the environment at the same time.

“The next generation of energy efficiency will come through incremental improvements to existing HVAC technologies,” research analyst Eric Bloom recently told the Pike Research firm. “But there is a great deal of untapped potential for innovation and the adoption of new technologies, such as geothermal heat pumps, that will transform the way buildings function.”

The word “innovation” is often used when talking about the future of HVAC systems, which is why it is important for the next generation of HVAC technicians to have the training necessary to adapt to a changing industry and the knowledge to build and install systems to the exact standards of building owners.

Students at the Ayers Career College’s refrigeration school in Louisiana are taught the skills necessary to be an in-demand professional HVAC technician in today’s innovative market.

Medical billing and coding specialist work to ensure claims are able to be sent to insurance providers, avoiding long waits for people in need of medical care. These specialists also bill and code insurance claims that are increasingly a crucial part of today’s healthcare industry as more and more people have to navigate confusing insurance requirements. The medical billing and coding specialist can also help coordinate insurance verification, per-authorization and referral tasks. Without this work the healthcare system could come to a standstill.

The specialist also registers patient information and collects patient payment.

Another way to look at it would be as if the healthcare industry is a human body. The doctors are the head with the nurses acting as the arms. Insurance companies are the lungs and transportation officials are the legs. Each part is important and the medical billing and coding specialist acts like the blood in the body, making sure each limb and organ has what it needs to do its job and assist the other one.

Because of the importance of medical billing and coding services, hospitals often look for the best company that can offer the most technical knowledge and the quickest response times. It’s a demanding job and medical billing and coding companies know that they can’t afford to hire workers that lack the necessary skills and technical knowledge because it could lead to lost contracts for service with hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

The importance of medical billing and coding specialist makes this one of the fastest growing career fields today but it’s not an industry that a job-seeker can just jump into. Today’s medical billing and coding specialist need proper training and experience that companies are looking for. The job is too important to just accept any applicant.

Those looking to enter this growing field should consider an education program that trains students in medical tests, treatments, procedures and insurance company rules and requirements, which are constantly changing.

New federal regulations also require an understanding of electronic patient records. It can be tough for healthcare facilities to find applicants that have this knowledge, which means students of Ayers Career College’s medical billing and coding program will have a leg up in securing employment in this growing field.

The demand for heating and air-conditioning exists anytime, anywhere. The fight against the weather is a battle that continues in any type of economy.

What Work Does a HVAC Technician Do?
HVACR systems contain several different parts like thermostats, ducts, pipes, and fans. Technicians have to be able pinpoint problems, utilize the appropriate tools, and repair any specific part of the entire system. Sometimes, they will choose to specialize in an area such as installation or repair and maintenance. Or they choose to work with only one type of device like a commercial fridge or solar panel. In this case, these types of workers tend to be employed by contracting businesses or manufacturers. Over 50 percent of HVAC workers are hired by cooling and heating contractors. The technicians employed by smaller companies usually install and keep up with all different types of systems and machines.

Heating and air-conditioning mechanics that work in residential and commercial buildings are in charge of installations and system maintenance. Once the main equipment is put together. A total look over of the system is then performed to make sure all of the connections are accurate followed by a combustion test using carbon Monoxide or oxygen testers.

Whether you decide to work as a HVAC technician for residential homes, commercial buildings, or inside a small company, you can be certain of a stable, long-term career.

There are several different categories of certifications-EPA Section 608 Technician Certification, EPA 609 Technician Certification, R-410A Technician Certification, Indoor Air Quality Certification, PM Technician Certification, and Green HVAC/R Certification.

Which certification you have will determine which appliance you are qualified to work on. Each certification is given by passing the EPA exam. You can choose to take one test for a specific certification, or pass all three be certified to work on every type of appliance.

What Does Each Certification Mean?

The EPA Section 608 Technician Certification is the only section that has different types to choose from. You will need this certification to be able to work on building air conditioning and refrigeration systems.  This section offers 4 certifications types:

Type I Certification- Persons who maintain service or repair small appliances must be certified as Type I technicians.

Type II Certification-Persons, who maintain, service, repair or dispose of high or very high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioning systems, must be certified as Type II technicians.

Type III Certification-Persons, who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of low-pressure appliances must be certified as Type III technicians.

Universal Certification-Persons, who maintain, service or repair both low and high-pressure equipment, as well as small appliances, must be certified as Universal technicians. (Type I, Type II, and Type III Certifications)

The EPA 609 Technician Certification is necessary to able work on Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners, and also allows refrigerant purchases.

The R-410A Technician Certification is available for those who are already EPA Section 608 Certified. Technicians should already know the basics of air conditioning-refrigeration system installation before taking this training.

The Indoor Air Quality Certification gives technicians the ability to service, clean, and inspect the HVAC’s system.

The PM Technician Certification is only available to Section 608 certified technician. It contains all areas of acid and moisture detection, water removal, coil maintenance, and more.

The Green HVAC/R Certification is not an EPA required certification, but is becoming more of a desire for many technicians because of the increasing demand for environmentally smart HVAC technology. This certification teaches how energy conservation can be used in the heating and cooling industry.