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

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Hartford WI so you can get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. Naturally the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. Many potential students start by searching for colleges that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the tuitions. While tuition and location are significant concerns when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have many job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Hartford WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the typical daily tasks a pharmacy technician might perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Add prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is an extremely gratifying career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two alternatives to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Hartford WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program should provide the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools elect to become certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Hartford WI pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. 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, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by both programs, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Schools Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy tech online school, it's important to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Hartford pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to obtain some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Hartford WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online colleges are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and study materials can be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online college 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 classes may be the best solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you wish 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 begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician programs to pick from in the Hartford WI area and throughout the USA, so you must 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 commuting distance from your Hartford residence. If you are willing to relocate 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 should consider so that you may adequately compare programs. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a complete superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it might help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often 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 earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician program should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Hartford WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Hartford WI upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Hartford WI home. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly 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 are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist technician college you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Hartford WI area, confirm 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 enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Hartford

Enroll in the Best Hartford Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the best pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to starting your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping customers with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician colleges include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the right training and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Hartford Wisconsin.

 

Hartford Pharmacy Technician Schools | Hartford Pharmacy Technician Training