Pharmacy Tech School
How to Select the Right One Near Grand Chute Wisconsin

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Grand Chute WI, you may be pondering just how to choose the ideal school to get your education and training. Of course the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important concerns when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation must be considered as well. And if you prefer studying in your home in front of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have multiple job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Grand Chute WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Receive and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready 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 techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work after hours is a very rewarding career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be completed 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 require an internship at an accepted Grand Chute WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally involves about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Grand Chute WI employers will only employ a technician that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online training program, it's necessary to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is commonly satisfied in an area Grand Chute pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Grand Chute WI home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, especially for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online schools are frequently more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials can be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online instruction may be the best option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Grand Chute WI area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Grand Chute home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other factors that you must consider in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Grand Chute WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire 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 an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Grand Chute WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Grand Chute WI upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without any support. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Grand Chute WI home. 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 local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear 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 usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges 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 an opportunity to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Grand Chute WI area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Grand Chute

Enroll in the Right Grand Chute Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their health is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist technician schools incorporate both classroom and clinical work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds 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 programs so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the proper education and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Grand Chute Wisconsin.

 

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