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

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Germantown WI in order to receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? When checking out pharmacy technician programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are important factors when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally 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 others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have multiple job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Germantown WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Add customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two alternatives to training to be a technician 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 accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Germantown WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Germantown WI employers will only employ a tech 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 candidate be at least 18 years old, 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 examination. Recertification is called for every two years by both programs, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online training program, it's important to realize that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in an area Germantown pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed online in your Germantown WI home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their degree or certificate. And online colleges are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college 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 formal type of education, then online training may be the best option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacist tech schools to pick from in the Germantown WI area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Germantown home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare schools. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Germantown WI pharmacies 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 every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician school should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to get 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 in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Germantown WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Germantown WI upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Germantown WI residence. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally 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 decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech college you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Germantown WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Germantown

Choose the Best Germantown Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the right pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where assisting people with their health is your objective. In the past, most pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist tech schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a college that is accredited and will prep 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 compare schools so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate education and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Germantown Wisconsin.

 

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