Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Pick the Right One Near Fitchburg Wisconsin

Having made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Fitchburg WI, you might be wondering how to select the right school to receive your education and training. Naturally the first step is to locate schools that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. Many future students start by searching for colleges that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are significant factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You may also decide to look into several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will cover 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 technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Fitchburg WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily services a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control 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 typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Certificates and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Fitchburg WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech colleges opt to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, a number of Fitchburg WI employers will only hire a technician that has earned certification. 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, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online college, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in a local Fitchburg pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to acquire some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed online in your Fitchburg WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, notably for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as 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 might be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Fitchburg WI area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Fitchburg residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you must take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible 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 earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This requirement may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Fitchburg WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Fitchburg WI after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any help. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement 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 profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Fitchburg WI home. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern 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 college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly 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 sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Fitchburg WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Fitchburg

Enroll in the Right Fitchburg Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where helping people with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician programs incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to select a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Fitchburg Wisconsin.

 

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