Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Find the Best One Near Madison Wisconsin

Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Madison WI, you may be thinking about just how to pick the ideal college to receive your education and training. Naturally the initial step is to locate schools that offer the certificate or degree that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are significant concerns when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as accreditation and reputation should be taken into account as well. You may also want to look into a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 alternatives to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an accepted Madison WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Options

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges choose to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Madison WI pharmacies will only hire a technician that is certified. There are two 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, has graduated from high school, has completed 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 examination. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in a local Madison pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working under an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Madison WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who keep working while attaining their certificate or degree. And online schools are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that any online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the ideal solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

After you have decided whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Madison WI area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Madison home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Madison WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech college should ready 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 may be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Madison WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Madison WI after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any help. Ask if the schools 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 indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Madison WI home. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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 Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Madison WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Madison

Choose the Best Madison Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the ideal pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to launching your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their health is your mission. Traditionally, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist technician colleges include both laboratory and classroom training. As we have discussed in this article, it's essential to select a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the right training and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Madison Wisconsin.

 

Madison Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Madison Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online