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

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Beaver Dam WI so you can get the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are significant factors when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You might also want to take a look at a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have various job duties, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Beaver Dam WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Greet and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is a very fulfilling career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two options to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. A number of programs also require an internship at an accepted Beaver Dam WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges choose to get certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, a number of Beaver Dam WI employers will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Classes Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist tech online school, it's important to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in an area Beaver Dam pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to obtain some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed online in your Beaver Dam WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online classes may be the right solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have determined whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist technician programs to select from in the Beaver Dam WI area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Beaver Dam residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you should consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a complete superior education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Beaver Dam WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician college should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Beaver Dam WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Beaver Dam WI upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without any support. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Beaver Dam WI home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Beaver Dam WI area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Beaver Dam

Choose the Best Beaver Dam Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting people with their health is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained techs. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist technician schools incorporate both classroom and clinical work. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to select a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the proper education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Beaver Dam Wisconsin.

 

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