Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Fitchburg Wisconsin

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Fitchburg WI so you can receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. Naturally the initial step is to locate schools that offer the certificate or degree that you are interested in. When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are significant concerns when selecting a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation should be considered also. You may also choose to research some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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

Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Fitchburg 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 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 prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice relating to medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Receive and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, 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 satisfying career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two alternatives to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted Fitchburg WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Fitchburg WI employers will only employ a technician that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide 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 completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Programs Online

Before choosing a pharmacy technician online program, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area Fitchburg pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Fitchburg WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online programs 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 a recognized accrediting agency, for instance 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 Colleges

After you have determined whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician schools to pick from in the Fitchburg WI area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Fitchburg home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have earned 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 offer a complete superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Fitchburg WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech college should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Fitchburg WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in Fitchburg WI upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Fitchburg WI residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even 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 often charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Fitchburg WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Fitchburg

Choose the Right Fitchburg Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacist technicians were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech colleges include both clinical and classroom work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the right education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Fitchburg Wisconsin.

 

Fitchburg Pharmacy Tech Certificate | Fitchburg Pharmacy Technician Schools