Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Pick the Right One Near Stevens Point Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Stevens Point WI, you might be thinking about how to choose the best school to receive your education and training. Naturally the first step is to locate schools that offer the degree or diploma that you are interested in. Many prospective students start by searching for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are critical factors when deciding on a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation must be taken into account as well. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home by means of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online program will also be included in your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and others that you will need to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the certificate and degree options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have multiple job functions, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Stevens Point WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills because they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice relating to medications or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the common daily services a pharmacy tech may carry out are:

• Greet and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Enter customer and prescription information into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Complete and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy techs will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer technicians with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is a very gratifying career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are generally two options to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which normally can be completed in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and typically include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Stevens Point WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which typically requires about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program should furnish the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech schools opt to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Stevens Point WI employers will only hire a technician that is certified. There are 2 organizations that provide 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 candidate has graduated high school 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 Schools Online

Before selecting a pharmacist tech online college, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is typically satisfied in a local Stevens Point pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to acquire some work place experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken over the internet in your Stevens Point WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online schools are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials can be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online schools are accredited, which is important for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online school you are considering is accredited by an acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are disciplined enough to learn with a less structured form of education, then online training might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs

Once you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Stevens Point WI area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Stevens Point home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other variables that you need to consider in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs 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 certified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it might assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Stevens Point WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This condition can be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Stevens Point WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Stevens Point WI after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Stevens Point WI residence. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps 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 normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. 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 converse with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Stevens Point WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

Learn More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in Stevens Point

Choose the Best Stevens Point Pharmacy Tech School

Receiving the right pharmacy tech training is a crucial first step to starting your career in a fulfilling profession where helping people with their health is your objective. In the past, many pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated technicians. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician colleges incorporate both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to choose a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other suggestions you will be able to compare colleges so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the proper training and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Stevens Point Wisconsin.

 

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