Pharmacy Tech Course
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Stoughton Wisconsin

It’s time to select and enroll in a pharmacy tech certificate or degree program near Stoughton WI in order to receive the proper training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. Of course the initial step is to find schools that offer the degree or certificate that you would like to earn. When looking for pharmacy technician programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You may also decide to look into several accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's take a look at what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have many job responsibilities, but their primary duty is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Stoughton WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service abilities since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription medications per the pharmacist's directions. And they need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their medications as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever give medical advice relating to medications or anything else. Any such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily services a pharmacy technician may carry out are:

• Greet and assist customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medicines under pharmacist direction
• Input prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Call customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and control inventory

Due to the nature of their profession, pharmacy technicians 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 at times having to work off-hours is an extremely rewarding career helping people with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Certificates

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally 2 options to training to be a technician regardless if you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an approved Stoughton WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about 2 years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does offer a more expansive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can provide the necessary level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician programs choose to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, a number of Stoughton WI pharmacies will only hire 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 applicant 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 just requires that the applicant has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by both programs, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to selecting a pharmacist tech online training program, it's important to realize that most programs do require that a substantial part of the training be carried out in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Stoughton pharmacy or health center through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online in your Stoughton WI home or via any available computer. This option is more accommodating for many students, especially for those who keep working while earning their certificate or degree. And online colleges are often more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online program you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance 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 ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs

Once you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Stoughton WI area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Stoughton 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 many other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges and trade 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 verified to furnish a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make 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. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Stoughton WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Stoughton WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Stoughton WI after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any support. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Stoughton WI residence. Those who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy tech program you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Stoughton WI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Find Out More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Stoughton

Enroll in the Right Stoughton Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping customers with their wellness is your mission. Traditionally, most pharmacist technicians were trained "on the job". These days, most employers can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated technicians. Training is offered by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacist technician colleges incorporate both clinical and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to choose a college 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 other tips you will be able to compare colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal selection. With the appropriate education and dedication you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Stoughton Wisconsin.

 

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