Pharmacy Tech College
How to Choose the Right One Near Oak Creek Wisconsin
Having made the decision to attain your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near Oak Creek WI, you might be wondering just how to choose the right school to get your education and training. Naturally the initial step is to find schools that offer the degree or diploma that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, many potential students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are critical concerns when deciding on a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You might also choose to research some accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over these qualifiers and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.
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Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates
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 two options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Oak Creek WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.
Pharmacy Technician Certifications Offered
Certification is not required in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges choose to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Oak Creek WI employers will only employ a tech 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 applicant be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has completed a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every two years by both programs, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.
Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online
Before selecting a pharmacist technician online training program, it's necessary to understand that most schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually satisfied in a local Oak Creek pharmacy or hospital by means of an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to receive some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your Oak Creek WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, especially for those who continue to work while attaining their certificate or degree. And online colleges are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for commuting and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for example the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online instruction may be the best choice for you.
Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
Once you have decided whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Oak Creek WI area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Oak Creek home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of 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 verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Oak Creek WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition may be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Oak Creek WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first position in Oak Creek WI after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without some help. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Oak Creek WI residence. Students who have chosen to attend classes online 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 bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes enable 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 ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few 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 need to confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Oak Creek WI area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.
Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in Oak Creek
Enroll in the Best Oak Creek Pharmacy Tech Program
Finding the best pharmacy technician training is an important first step to launching your career in a gratifying profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your mission. In the past, most pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist technician programs include both classroom and clinical work. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to select a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are certain to make the right choice. With the proper education and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Oak Creek Wisconsin.
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