Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Greendale Wisconsin

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Greendale WI in order to get the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are significant factors when choosing a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation need to be evaluated also. You may also want to look into some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma 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 main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Greendale WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since 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 need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily services a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Enter prescription and customer 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 monitor and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, especially for newer technicians with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two options to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Greendale WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges opt to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, many Greendale WI employers will only hire a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide 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 finished a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Before selecting a pharmacist technician online program, it's necessary to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local Greendale pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy tech so as to get some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Greendale WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their degree or certificate. And online colleges are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online school you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online instruction might be the best solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacist tech programs to select from in the Greendale WI area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Greendale residence. 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 many other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare programs. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have earned 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 screened and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Greendale WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Greendale WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Greendale WI after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any support. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Greendale WI home. Those who have opted 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 school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. 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 opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy tech college you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Greendale WI area, verify 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, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Greendale

Enroll in the Best Greendale Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to starting your career in a fulfilling profession where helping customers with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist tech colleges include both classroom and laboratory work. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to choose a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as 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 best choice. With the appropriate training and dedication you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Greendale Wisconsin.

 

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