Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Hartford Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Hartford WI, you might be pondering just how to pick the right school to get your education and training. Naturally the initial step is to locate schools that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. A number of future students begin by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are critical concerns when selecting a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers including reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account also. You may also want to look into some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will want 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 courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have multiple job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Hartford WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy technician might perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions 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 technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is a very satisfying career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally 2 alternatives to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide 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 Hartford WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools choose to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, many Hartford WI employers will only employ a tech that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that provide 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 completed a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by both programs, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online college, it's important to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in an area Hartford pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to obtain some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Hartford WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online program you are reviewing 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 structured form of education, then online training might be the ideal solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have decided whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the Hartford WI area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Hartford home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other factors that you should take into consideration so that you may adequately compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national 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 screened and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Hartford WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Hartford WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in Hartford WI upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Hartford WI residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area 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 may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical 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 determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Hartford WI area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative 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 work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Hartford

Enroll in the Right Hartford Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a fulfilling profession where helping customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the appropriate education and commitment you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Hartford Wisconsin.

 

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