Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Find the Right One Near Green Bay Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Green Bay WI, you might be pondering just how to pick the best school to receive your education and training. Naturally the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are critical concerns when choosing a college, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. And if you are interested in attending classes at home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

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 management of a licensed Green Bay WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever offer medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily services a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a technician 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 present an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Green Bay WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program can furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges choose to become certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, many Green Bay WI employers will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant 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 candidate has graduated high school 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 Schools Online

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is typically fulfilled in a local Green Bay pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to receive some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken online in your Green Bay WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, especially for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance 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 may be the best solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

Once you have decided whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Green Bay WI area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Green Bay residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you must take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Green Bay WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Green Bay WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Green Bay WI upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some support. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Green Bay WI residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes obviously 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 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching 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 ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Green Bay WI area, verify 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 need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Green Bay

Choose the Right Green Bay Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the right pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a gratifying occupation where helping customers with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician schools include both clinical and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the appropriate training and commitment you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Green Bay Wisconsin.

 

Green Bay Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Green Bay Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online