Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Select the Right One Near Waukesha Wisconsin

Having decided to earn your pharmacy technician certificate or degree near Waukesha WI, you may be thinking about just how to pick the right college to get your education and training. Naturally the first step is to locate colleges that offer the diploma or degree that you are interested in. When checking out pharmacy technician schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant factors when deciding on a school, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. You may also decide to look into a few accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an option to attending classes on campus. We will go over 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 technician does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Duties

Pharmacy techs have numerous job responsibilities, but their principal duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the management of a licensed Waukesha WI pharmacist. They must also have excellent customer service skills since they will be dealing directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when filling prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they may assist customers with understanding directions for their prescriptions as well as other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice concerning medications or anything else. All such questions should be handled by the pharmacist. Several of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician might carry out are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Dispense prescription drugs under pharmacist supervision
• Add prescription and customer data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their medications are prepared for pick-up
• Prepare and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, particularly for newer technicians with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is an extremely rewarding career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Training Programs

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are basically two options to training to be a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs present an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and generally include lab and classroom training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an approved Waukesha WI pharmacy or similar facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which typically involves about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Either program should furnish the necessary amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

Certification is not required in all states, but numerous graduates of pharmacy technician colleges opt to get certified so as to be more qualified when seeking employment. Also, a number of Waukesha 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 requirements are that the applicant be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, 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 called for every 2 years by both programs, which can be fulfilled by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Colleges Online

Prior to deciding on a pharmacist technician online college, it's important to understand that most programs do require a portion of the training be carried out in a clinical setting. This is usually satisfied in an area Waukesha pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with an experienced pharmacy technician in order to obtain some real world experience. However the balance or non-clinical training may be taken over the internet in your Waukesha WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, notably for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online colleges are frequently more affordable than classroom options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is offered. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is essential for obtaining certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So check that each online college you are reviewing is accredited by a recognized 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 training might be the right solution for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

Once you have determined whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician colleges to pick from in the Waukesha WI area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Waukesha residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Waukesha WI employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech program should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way 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 clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Waukesha WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Waukesha WI after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any help. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Waukesha WI residence. Students who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to bear 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 often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer 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 opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Waukesha WI area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative 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 may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

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

Choose the Best Waukesha Pharmacy Tech School

Getting the best pharmacy technician training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where assisting customers with their wellness is your purpose. In the past, many 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 trained technicians. Training is furnished by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Many pharmacy tech colleges include both clinical and classroom training. As we have covered 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 classes online as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate programs so that you are sure to make the right selection. With the appropriate training and commitment you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Waukesha Wisconsin.

 

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