Pharmacy Tech College
How to Select the Best One Near Germantown Wisconsin

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Germantown WI, you might be pondering how to select the best college to receive your education and training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of future students begin by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes at home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 alternatives to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Germantown WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Also, a number of Germantown WI employers will only employ a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that offer certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requires that the candidate be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online program, it's necessary to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local Germantown pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to obtain some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed online in your Germantown WI home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, notably for those who keep working while earning their certificate or degree. And online schools are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials can 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 essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online classes may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have determined whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, 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 many pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Germantown WI area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Germantown home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Germantown 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 every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This condition can be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Germantown WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Germantown WI upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any support. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, 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 creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Germantown WI home. Those who have decided 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 importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even 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 frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student 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 a chance to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Germantown WI area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify 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 may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Germantown

Enroll in the Best Germantown Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to starting your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacy techs were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech colleges include both classroom and clinical training. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for classes online and 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 right choice. With the appropriate education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Germantown Wisconsin.

 

Germantown Pharmacy Technician Schools | Germantown Pharmacy Technician Training