Pharmacy Tech School
How to Select the Right One Near Oconomowoc Wisconsin

Now it’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Oconomowoc WI so you can get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding profession of medicine. Usually the initial step is to find colleges that offer the degree or diploma that you would like to earn. Many prospective students begin by looking for schools that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the cost. While tuition and location are significant factors when choosing a college, they are not the only ones. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer studying in your home by means of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then finding an accredited online college will also be included in your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will want 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 programs.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job responsibilities, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the management of a licensed Oconomowoc WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when preparing prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they can help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice pertaining to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily functions a pharmacy tech might perform are:

• Receive and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist guidance
• Enter customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and control 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 very common, particularly for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is an extremely satisfying career assisting people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Certificates and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are essentially two options to becoming a technician 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 accomplished in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Oconomowoc WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally requires about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to become certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, many Oconomowoc WI employers will only employ a tech that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide certification:

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

The NHA requires 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 professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every two years by each program, which can be fulfilled by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online school, it's necessary to understand that most schools do require that a substantial part of the training be completed in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Oconomowoc pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with a seasoned pharmacy tech in order to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training can be taken over the internet in your Oconomowoc WI home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for many students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials can be reduced significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting agency, 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 instruction may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have decided whether you wish 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 target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech schools to pick from in the Oconomowoc WI area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Oconomowoc home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other issues that you must consider in order to effectively compare programs. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Oconomowoc WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician college should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition may be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical 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 an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Oconomowoc WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Oconomowoc WI after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without any support. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships 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 Oconomowoc WI home. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at 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 decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Oconomowoc WI area, make certain that they are offered. 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 enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Oconomowoc

Choose the Right Oconomowoc Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to starting your career in a rewarding profession where helping customers with their health is your objective. In the past, many pharmacy techs were taught "on the job". These days, the majority of pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. Most pharmacy technician colleges incorporate both laboratory and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's important to choose a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This is true 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 sure to make the best choice. With the proper education and determination you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Oconomowoc Wisconsin.

 

Oconomowoc Pharmacy Technician Certificate | Oconomowoc Pharmacy Technician Certificate Online