Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Find the Right One Near New Berlin Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near New Berlin WI, you may be pondering just how to choose the right school to get your education and training. Usually the first step is to locate colleges that offer the degree or certificate that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation should be considered also. And if you prefer attending classes at home in front of your computer rather than in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job functions, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed New Berlin WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service abilities since 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 must have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice regarding medications or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily duties a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Welcome and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Add prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most 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 sometimes having to work after hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Technician Diplomas and Degrees

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally 2 alternatives to becoming a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved New Berlin WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

Certification is not required in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Additionally, many New Berlin WI employers will only hire a tech that is certified. There are two organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requirements are that the applicant be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished 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 examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by each program, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Programs Online

Before deciding on a pharmacy tech online school, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in an area New Berlin pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician in order to get some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be taken online in your New Berlin WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for many students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online programs are sometimes less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less formal type of education, then online instruction may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

Once you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy tech schools to select from in the New Berlin WI area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your New Berlin home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you should consider so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be 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 recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it might help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of New Berlin WI employers 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 required in all states, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This requirement may be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with New Berlin WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in New Berlin WI upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some help. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their New Berlin WI residence. Those who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something 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 typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the New Berlin WI area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in New Berlin

Enroll in the Right New Berlin Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the ideal pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where assisting people with their wellness is your mission. Traditionally, many pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is furnished by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist technician schools incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's important to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This holds true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the proper education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in New Berlin Wisconsin.

 

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