Pharmacy Tech College
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Janesville Wisconsin

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Janesville WI in order to receive the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Naturally the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical factors when picking a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including reputation and accreditation need to be taken into account as well. You might also decide to research a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Janesville WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can assist customers with understanding directions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Greet and assist customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Enter customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is a very gratifying career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Training Programs

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

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but many graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, many Janesville WI pharmacies will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that provide 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 finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Programs

Prior to selecting a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in an area Janesville pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to acquire some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your Janesville WI home or via any available computer. This option is more practical for most students, notably for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online training might be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

After you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy tech programs to select from in the Janesville WI area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Janesville home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Janesville 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 employers desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician school 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 qualification can be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Janesville WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Janesville WI upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any support. Find out if the colleges you are researching 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 indicates that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Janesville WI home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps 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 frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Janesville WI area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Janesville

Choose the Best Janesville Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the best pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where assisting people with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech programs include both classroom and clinical work. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the best selection. With the right training and determination you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Janesville Wisconsin.

 

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