Pharmacy Tech School
How to Select the Best One Near Eau Claire Wisconsin
Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Eau Claire WI so you can receive the right training to begin a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of prospective students start by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are important concerns when choosing 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 several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.
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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities
Pharmacy technicians have multiple job functions, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Eau Claire WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the common daily tasks a pharmacy technician may carry out are:
- Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
- Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
- Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
- Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
- Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
- Stock shelves and audit and control inventory
As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting customers with their health and wellness.
Pharmacy Technician Degrees
Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally 2 options to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Eau Claire WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.
Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered
Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech schools choose to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Eau Claire 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 requires that the applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.
Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online
Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online program, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in an area Eau Claire 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 get some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed over the internet in your Eau Claire WI home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for most students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials can be reduced significantly. 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 any online program you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online classes might be the best solution for you.
What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
Once you have decided whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist tech programs to pick from in the Eau Claire WI area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Eau Claire residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are many other factors that you must consider in order to adequately compare schools. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations 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 colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Eau Claire 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 mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech college should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be met through 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 tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Eau Claire WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Eau Claire WI upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Eau Claire WI home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online 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 program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Eau Claire WI area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.
Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Eau Claire
Choose the Best Eau Claire Pharmacy Tech Program
Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to starting your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting people with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech schools include both clinical and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the appropriate education and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Eau Claire Wisconsin.
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