Pharmacy Tech College
How to Select the Best One Near Kaukauna Wisconsin

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Kaukauna WI, you might be wondering just how to choose the ideal college to get your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant concerns when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You might also decide to research some accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Kaukauna WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever give medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily functions a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Input customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times being required to work after hours is a very gratifying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially 2 options to becoming a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an accepted Kaukauna WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools choose to become certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Kaukauna WI employers will only employ a technician 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 finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by both programs, which may be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Colleges Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy tech online college, it's important to realize that most programs do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in a local Kaukauna pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy technician in order to acquire some real world experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed over the internet in your Kaukauna WI home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online training might be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you want 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 target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to pick from in the Kaukauna WI area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Kaukauna home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Kaukauna WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on 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 College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Kaukauna WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Kaukauna WI after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Kaukauna WI residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for 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 rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor 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 pharmacy tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally select can furnish 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 Kaukauna WI area, make sure 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 carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Kaukauna

Enroll in the Right Kaukauna Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where assisting people with their health is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech schools incorporate both classroom and laboratory work. As we have discussed in this article, it's important to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prepare 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 programs so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the right education and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Kaukauna Wisconsin.

 

Kaukauna Pharmacy Technician Schools | Kaukauna Pharmacy Technician Training