Pharmacy Tech Program
How to Pick the Right One Near West Allis Wisconsin

Now that you have made the decision to earn your pharmacy tech certificate or degree near West Allis WI, you may be thinking about just how to select the right program to get your education and training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are critical factors when picking a college, they are not the only ones. Qualifications including reputation and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. And if you are interested in attending classes in your home by means of your computer rather than in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will cover these qualifiers and some others that you will need to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the advantages of online classes.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Description

Pharmacy techs have multiple job functions, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must perform under the supervision of a licensed West Allis WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service skills since 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 need to have an extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terms so that they may assist customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions should be directed to the pharmacist. Several of the typical daily services a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Receive and help customers with medications and other questions
• Dispense prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Input customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control 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 very common, especially for newer techs with lower seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or sometimes being required to work after hours is an extremely gratifying career assisting customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician school are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically 2 alternatives to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a trade school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be finished in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various facets of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and normally include lab and classroom training. Many programs also include an internship at an accepted West Allis WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally takes about two years of studies. Although not needed for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive 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 choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Technician Certifications Available

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy technician schools opt to become certified so as to be more qualified in the job market. Also, a number of West Allis WI pharmacies will only employ a technician that is certified. There are two 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 completed 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 examination. Recertification is called for every 2 years by both programs, which can be satisfied by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Technician Online Classes

Prior to selecting a pharmacist technician online program, it's necessary to realize that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is typically satisfied in an area West Allis pharmacy or health center by means of an internship program. Students in most cases will have the opportunity to work with a seasoned pharmacy technician so as to receive some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken online in your West Allis WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their degree or certificate. And online programs are often less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for driving and course materials may be reduced significantly. With both the online and the clinical training, a complete education is offered. But not all online programs are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So confirm that each online school you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, 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 training may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools

Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to select from in the West Allis WI area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast 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 budget and driving distance from your West Allis home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you should consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you get a quality education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many West Allis WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to 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 satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with West Allis WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in West Allis WI after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without any help. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their West Allis WI home. Those who have opted 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 importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor 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 perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the West Allis WI area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option 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 may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Find Out More about Becoming a Pharmacy Technician in West Allis

Choose the Best West Allis Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the best pharmacy technician training is a crucial first step to beginning your career in a gratifying profession where helping people with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacist techs were trained "on the job". These days, most pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally educated techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. Most pharmacist tech schools incorporate both clinical and classroom work. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to enroll in a college that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional suggestions you will be able to compare programs so that you are sure to make the ideal selection. With the right education and determination you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in West Allis Wisconsin.

 

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