Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Kenosha Wisconsin

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Kenosha WI, you might be pondering how to select the right college to receive your education and training. Usually the initial step is to locate colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While tuition and location are critical concerns when selecting a school, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. You might also choose to research a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address 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 classes.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below

Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have various job responsibilities, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Kenosha WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice pertaining to medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily tasks a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Welcome and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist direction
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work off-hours is a very gratifying career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally 2 alternatives to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved Kenosha WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to become certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Also, many Kenosha WI employers will only employ a technician that is certified. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requirements are 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 professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their examination. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's important to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in a local Kenosha pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to receive some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Kenosha WI home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while attaining their degree or certificate. And online schools are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online classes might be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

Once you have determined whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician programs to select from in the Kenosha WI area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Kenosha home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you must consider in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete superior education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Kenosha 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 numerous employers prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied with 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 practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Kenosha WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Kenosha WI upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Kenosha WI home. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small 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 monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician program you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Kenosha WI area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, 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 may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Kenosha

Enroll in the Right Kenosha Pharmacy Tech Program

Receiving the best pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy technician programs include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to choose a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This applies both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate training and commitment you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Kenosha Wisconsin.

 

Kenosha Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Kenosha Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online