Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Chippewa Falls Wisconsin

Having decided to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Chippewa Falls WI, you may be thinking about how to pick the right school to get your education and training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately pick the best one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation should be evaluated also. And if you prefer attending classes in your home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have various job functions, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Chippewa Falls WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 alternatives to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Chippewa Falls WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician colleges choose to get certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Chippewa Falls WI employers will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires 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 just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by each program, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Before choosing a pharmacy tech online training program, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local Chippewa Falls pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy technician so as to obtain some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Chippewa Falls WI home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online schools are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that any online college you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training may be the ideal solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Chippewa Falls WI area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Chippewa Falls residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you must consider so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated 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 distance or online education. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Chippewa Falls WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician school should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Chippewa Falls WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in Chippewa Falls WI upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any help. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Chippewa Falls 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 local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly 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.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average student to teacher 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 a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician college you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Chippewa Falls WI area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Chippewa Falls

Choose the Best Chippewa Falls Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech programs incorporate both clinical and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to choose a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies 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 best selection. With the right education and commitment you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin.

 

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