Pharmacy Tech School
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Beaver Dam Wisconsin

Having decided to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Beaver Dam WI, you may be thinking about how to select the ideal school to receive your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are significant concerns when choosing a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation must be evaluated also. You may also want to take a look at some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have many job functions, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate 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 medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice concerning medications or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is an extremely rewarding career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Certificates and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Beaver Dam WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools elect to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many Beaver Dam WI pharmacies will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 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, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to realize that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Beaver Dam pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to acquire some real world 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 accommodating for most students, notably for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online college you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools 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 discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Beaver Dam home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are several other variables that you need to consider in order to adequately compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Beaver Dam WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

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

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Beaver Dam WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Beaver Dam WI after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Ask if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Beaver Dam WI home. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Beaver Dam WI area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Beaver Dam

Choose the Best Beaver Dam Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician programs include both clinical and classroom work. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the proper training and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Beaver Dam Wisconsin.

 

Beaver Dam Pharmacy Technician Programs | Beaver Dam Pharmacy Technician Classes