Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Janesville Wisconsin

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech degree or certificate program near Janesville WI in order to receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding field of medicine. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Many future students begin by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are critical factors when selecting a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You might also want to look into some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, 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 Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Janesville WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the common daily functions a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Fill prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Enter prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their prescriptions 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 technicians will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is a very satisfying career helping people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degree Programs

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally 2 options to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Janesville WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician colleges choose to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, a number of Janesville 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 requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, 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 graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Online

Before choosing a pharmacy technician online school, it's important to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in a local Janesville pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to obtain some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Janesville WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online programs are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online instruction may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have determined whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Janesville WI area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Janesville residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you get a quality education, it might help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Janesville WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Janesville WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Janesville WI after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Janesville WI residence. Individuals who have opted 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 concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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 kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Janesville WI area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Janesville

Choose the Best Janesville Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the right pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to starting your career in a rewarding occupation where helping people with their health is your purpose. In the past, many pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist technician colleges incorporate both laboratory and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to choose a program that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the proper training and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Janesville Wisconsin.

 

Janesville Pharmacy Technician Classes | Janesville Pharmacy Tech Schools