Pharmacy Tech School
How to Pick the Right One Near Germantown Wisconsin

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Germantown WI, you may be thinking about just how to choose the ideal program to receive your education and training. Naturally the initial step is to find schools that offer the certificate or degree that you are interested in. Many future students start by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are significant factors when deciding on a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. And if you prefer attending classes at home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be included in your vetting process. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Germantown WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Enter prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call 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 profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer techs 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 assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Certificates and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Germantown WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally requires 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 choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to get certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, many Germantown WI pharmacies will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 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 completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy tech online school, it's important to realize that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is typically fulfilled in a local Germantown pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed over the internet in your Germantown WI home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for many students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online program you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as 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 right solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have decided whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to select from in the Germantown WI area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Germantown home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Germantown WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Germantown WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Germantown WI after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any help. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Germantown WI residence. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. 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 a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Germantown WI area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Germantown

Choose the Best Germantown Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the right pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to starting your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping people with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy technician programs incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Germantown Wisconsin.

 

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