Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Oak Creek Wisconsin

Now it’s time to choose and enroll in a pharmacy technician degree or certificate program near Oak Creek WI so you can get the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? A number of future students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are significant concerns when choosing a college, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation must be evaluated also. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy technician does, the certificate and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

Pharmacy technicians have numerous job responsibilities, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Oak Creek WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Some of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech may perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working evenings and weekends is also very common, particularly for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work off-hours is a very fulfilling career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Students desiring 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 technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Oak Creek WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more in depth education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy technician programs elect to become certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, many Oak Creek WI employers will only hire 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 candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of professional experience. The PTCB just requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by both programs, which may be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Classes Online

Before choosing a pharmacy technician online program, it's necessary to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in a local Oak Creek pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed over the internet in your Oak Creek WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for many students, notably for those who continue to work while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online programs are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and study 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 critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that each online college you are looking at is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online classes might be the best solution for you.

Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech programs to select from in the Oak Creek WI area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Oak Creek home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should consider in order to properly compare programs. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it might help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Oak Creek WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician school should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on 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 an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Oak Creek WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Oak Creek WI upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means 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 college they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Oak Creek WI home. Students who have opted 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 concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally 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 prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Oak Creek WI area, make sure that they are available. 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, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Oak Creek

Choose the Right Oak Creek Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the best pharmacy tech training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where helping people with their wellness is your mission. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained techs. Training is offered by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacy tech programs incorporate both laboratory and classroom training. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to choose a school that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare schools so that you are certain to make the best choice. With the right training and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Oak Creek Wisconsin.

 

Oak Creek Pharmacy Technician Schools | Oak Creek Pharmacy Technician Training