Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Beaver Dam Wisconsin

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Beaver Dam WI, you may be thinking about just how to pick the best college to receive your education and training. Naturally the first step is to locate schools that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. A number of future students begin by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when selecting a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account also. You may also want to research a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job responsibilities, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Beaver Dam WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist guidance
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is a very rewarding career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 options to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Beaver Dam WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs elect to become certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, many Beaver Dam WI pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requires that the applicant be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online program, it's necessary to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local Beaver Dam pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to get some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Beaver Dam WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who continue to work while attaining their degree or certificate. And online schools are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online program you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online classes may be the ideal solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech programs to select from in the Beaver Dam WI area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Beaver Dam residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other issues that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Beaver Dam WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician school should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Beaver Dam WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Getting that initial position in Beaver Dam WI upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some help. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Beaver Dam WI home. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy tech college you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Beaver Dam WI area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Beaver Dam

Choose the Right Beaver Dam Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist tech programs include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Beaver Dam Wisconsin.

 

Beaver Dam Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Beaver Dam Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online