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

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy technician certificate or degree program near Madison WI in order to get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. Of course the first step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. When looking for pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are critical concerns when picking a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications such as accreditation and reputation must be evaluated as well. You may also choose to research several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will go over 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 certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their main responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Madison WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily functions a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Add prescription and customer information 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 audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally being required to work off-hours is a very rewarding career assisting customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Diplomas and Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to becoming a tech 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 completed in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Madison WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered

Certification is not required in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to get certified so as to be more competitive when seeking employment. Also, many Madison WI pharmacies will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the candidate be at least 18 years old, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which can be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Programs

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy technician online program, it's important to understand that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is commonly satisfied in a local Madison pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy technician so as to receive some work place experience. However the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online in your Madison WI home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, particularly for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that any online school 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 learn with a less supervised form of education, then online training might be the best choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Madison WI area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Madison residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Madison 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 pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Madison WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Madison WI after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any 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 indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Madison WI residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers 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 personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical student to teacher 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 a chance to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening 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 credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Madison

Enroll in the Best Madison Pharmacy Tech Program

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist technician schools incorporate both laboratory and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to choose a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are certain to make the right selection. With the appropriate training and dedication you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Madison Wisconsin.

 

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