Pharmacy Tech School
How to Choose the Best One Near Greenfield Wisconsin

Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Greenfield WI so you can receive the right training to build a career in the rewarding field of healthcare. Usually the first step is to locate colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical concerns when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation must be taken into account also. You might also want to take a look at a few accredited pharmacy tech online 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 reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have many job duties, 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 Greenfield WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may 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 medications or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work after hours is a very fulfilling career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Individuals desiring 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 options to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Greenfield WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy tech schools elect to become certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Greenfield WI pharmacies will only hire 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 applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Before selecting a pharmacy tech online program, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local Greenfield pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech so as to get some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Greenfield WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for many students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance 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 might be the best choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

After you have determined whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Greenfield WI area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Greenfield residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you must take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it might assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Greenfield 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 numerous employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech school should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Greenfield WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first job in Greenfield WI upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Greenfield WI residence. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously 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 decide 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 normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Greenfield WI area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Greenfield

Enroll in the Right Greenfield Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the ideal pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping people with their health is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech colleges include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes 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 best selection. With the proper education and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Greenfield Wisconsin.

 

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