Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Fort Atkinson Wisconsin

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Fort Atkinson WI, you might be thinking about how to select the ideal program to receive your education and training. Naturally the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. When checking out pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical factors when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. And if you are interested in studying at home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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

Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have many job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Fort Atkinson WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice relating to medications or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the common daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready 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 techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is an extremely fulfilling career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two alternatives to training to be a tech whether 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 present an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Fort Atkinson WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each 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 a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs elect to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Fort Atkinson WI employers will only hire a technician 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 candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Programs

Before choosing a pharmacy tech online training program, it's important to understand that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in an area Fort Atkinson pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Fort Atkinson WI home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, particularly for those who keep working while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online school you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online classes might be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have decided whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Fort Atkinson WI area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Fort Atkinson home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national 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 furnish a complete superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Fort Atkinson WI employers 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 all states, but many 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 planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition can be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Fort Atkinson WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Getting that initial position in Fort Atkinson WI after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some support. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, 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 signifies that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Fort Atkinson WI residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at 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 final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Fort Atkinson WI area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check 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 due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Fort Atkinson

Choose the Right Fort Atkinson Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the best pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where helping customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most 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 educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech colleges include both classroom and clinical work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to select a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Fort Atkinson Wisconsin.

 

Fort Atkinson Pharmacy Technician Schools | Fort Atkinson Pharmacy Technician Training