Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Choose the Right One Near Platteville Wisconsin

Now that you have made the decision to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Platteville WI, you might be pondering how to pick the best college to get your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones 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 only ones. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. You might also choose to look into several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications 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 tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy technicians have multiple job duties, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Platteville WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be absolute when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice concerning medications or anything else. Any such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily functions a pharmacy tech might perform are:

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

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day standing. And working evenings and weekends is also typical, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes having to work after hours is an extremely fulfilling career assisting people with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Certificates and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two alternatives to becoming 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 usually can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include classroom and lab training. Many programs also require an internship at an approved Platteville WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which normally requires about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does provide a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician programs opt to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, many Platteville WI pharmacies will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are 2 organizations that offer certification:

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

The NHA requires that the candidate be 18 years or older, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has at least one year of professional experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their exam. Recertification is mandated every 2 years by each program, which may be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Colleges

Before choosing a pharmacy technician online college, it's necessary to understand that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in a local Platteville 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 get some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be taken over the internet in your Platteville WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more practical for most students, especially for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online programs are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and study materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a comprehensive education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is critical for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that any online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online instruction might be the best solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have determined whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Platteville WI area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Platteville home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you should consider in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it might assist 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 Platteville WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous employers prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Platteville WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial position in Platteville WI upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, find out 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 appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Platteville WI residence. Those 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 importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching 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 decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Platteville WI area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Platteville

Choose the Right Platteville Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to launching your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting people with their health is your mission. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were trained "on the job". These days, the majority of employers can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is furnished by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. Many pharmacist technician colleges incorporate both classroom and laboratory training. As we have addressed in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a school that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This holds true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the appropriate training and dedication you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Platteville Wisconsin.

 

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