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

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Bellevue WI, you might be pondering how to choose the best college to receive your education and training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are critical factors when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You may also want to research a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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

Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have many job duties, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Bellevue WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions 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 standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is a very gratifying career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted Bellevue WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools elect to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, many Bellevue WI pharmacies will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two 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 candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Online

Before selecting a pharmacist technician online training program, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Bellevue pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Bellevue WI home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online programs are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, 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 classes may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have determined whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician schools to pick from in the Bellevue WI area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Bellevue residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should consider in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Bellevue WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Bellevue WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Bellevue WI after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without any help. Ask if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, 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 field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Bellevue WI home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear 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 may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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 person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical student to teacher 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 talk with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Bellevue WI area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Bellevue

Choose the Best Bellevue Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting customers with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech colleges incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Bellevue Wisconsin.

 

Bellevue Pharmacy Technician Training | Bellevue Pharmacy Technician Courses