Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Hartford Wisconsin

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Hartford WI, you might be thinking about how to choose the ideal program to receive your education and training. Of course the first step is to find schools that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. A number of prospective students begin by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are critical concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation need to be evaluated also. And if you prefer studying in your home in front 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 others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have many job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Hartford WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may assist customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist direction
• Add prescription and customer data 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 job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially 2 options to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade 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 usually include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted Hartford WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed 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 should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs elect to get certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Hartford WI employers will only employ a technician 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, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Programs

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist tech online program, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in a local Hartford pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to acquire some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Hartford WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, notably for those who keep working while earning their certificate or degree. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online program you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

Once you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy technician colleges to select from in the Hartford WI area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Hartford residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare programs. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a complete quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Hartford WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Hartford WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial position in Hartford WI upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any help. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Hartford WI residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Hartford WI area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Hartford

Enroll in the Right Hartford Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping customers with their wellness is your mission. In the past, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy tech programs incorporate both classroom and laboratory work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to choose a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate schools so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate training and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Hartford Wisconsin.

 

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