Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Menomonee Falls Wisconsin

It’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Menomonee Falls WI in order to receive the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of healthcare. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? Many prospective students start by searching for schools that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are important factors when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation must be evaluated also. And if you prefer studying in your home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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

Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job responsibilities, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must operate under the management of a licensed Menomonee Falls WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Input prescription and customer data 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 manage inventory

Due to the nature of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is a very rewarding career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically 2 options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an accepted Menomonee Falls WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually takes 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 down the road. Each program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to get certified in order to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of Menomonee Falls WI pharmacies 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 requires 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 work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every 2 years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Classes Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacy technician online program, it's necessary to realize that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is typically fulfilled in a local Menomonee Falls pharmacy or health center 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. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Menomonee Falls WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online programs are often more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm 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 disciplined enough to study with a less supervised form of education, then online classes may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have decided whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Menomonee Falls WI area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Menomonee Falls residence. 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 a number of other factors that you must consider in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you get a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Menomonee Falls WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are 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 also need one year of job experience. This qualification can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Menomonee Falls WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in Menomonee Falls WI upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Menomonee Falls WI home. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Menomonee Falls WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Menomonee Falls

Choose the Right Menomonee Falls Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the right pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to starting your career in a fulfilling occupation where assisting people with their health is your mission. In the past, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist tech programs incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's important to select a college that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds true both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the right training and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Menomonee Falls Wisconsin.

 

Menomonee Falls Pharmacy Technician Classes | Menomonee Falls Pharmacy Tech Schools