Pharmacy Tech Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Stoughton Wisconsin

Having decided to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Stoughton WI, you may be pondering just how to select the ideal school to get your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of future students begin by looking for colleges that are within driving distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are significant factors when picking a school, they are not the only ones. Qualifiers such as reputation and accreditation should be considered also. You might also decide to take a look at a few accredited pharmacy tech online programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will address these qualifications and others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their principal responsibility is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed Stoughton WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be working directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when filling prescription medicines per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology in order that they may help customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no circumstance should they ever provide medical advice concerning prescriptions or anything else. All such questions should be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the typical daily duties a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with medications and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist guidance
• Add 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 monitor and manage inventory

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

Pharmacy Technician Certificates and Degrees

Students desiring to enroll in a pharmacy technician college are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two options to becoming a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be finished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the different facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also require an internship at an approved Stoughton WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which generally involves about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does provide a more extensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Either program should provide the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy tech colleges opt to get certified in order to be more competitive in the job market. Additionally, a number of Stoughton 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 requires that the candidate be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which can be met by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Before deciding on a pharmacy tech online program, it's important to understand that the majority of programs do require a portion of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. This is commonly fulfilled in an area Stoughton pharmacy or hospital 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. However the balance or non-clinical training can be accessed online in your Stoughton WI home or via any available computer. This option is more convenient for most students, particularly for those who keep working while earning their certificate or degree. And online colleges are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for commuting and study materials may be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online school you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, 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 classes might be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges

After you have determined whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech programs to pick from in the Stoughton WI area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Stoughton home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should consider so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies 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 obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Don't forget to check 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. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Stoughton WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician school should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one 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 technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Stoughton WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Stoughton WI upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating 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 Program Located? For many students, the school they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Stoughton WI home. Students who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical teacher to student 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 an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist technician college you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Stoughton WI area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More about How to Become a Pharmacy Tech in Stoughton

Enroll in the Best Stoughton Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the ideal pharmacy technician training is an important first step to beginning your career in a rewarding profession where assisting customers with their wellness is your objective. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". These days, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech programs incorporate both laboratory and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's essential to enroll in a program that is accredited and will prepare you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you follow our additional tips you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the best selection. With the right education and determination you can achieve your goal to become a pharmacy tech in Stoughton Wisconsin.

 

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