Pharmacy Tech School
How to Pick the Best One Near Bellevue Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Bellevue WI, you might be pondering just how to select the ideal school to get your education and training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important factors when deciding on a school, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You might also decide to take a look at some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have various job functions, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Bellevue WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily tasks a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Receive and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Add prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is a very gratifying career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 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 typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Bellevue WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, many Bellevue WI employers will only employ a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are 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 applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by both programs, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacist tech online school, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in an area Bellevue pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken online in your Bellevue WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials can be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction may be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech programs to select from in the Bellevue WI area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Bellevue residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you must consider so that you may adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Bellevue WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician program should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Bellevue WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Bellevue WI upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Find out if the schools you are looking at 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 school has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Bellevue WI residence. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide 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 usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Bellevue WI area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Bellevue

Choose the Best Bellevue Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech schools include both clinical and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds 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 schools so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the right training and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Bellevue Wisconsin.

 

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