Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near West Allis Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near West Allis WI, you might be thinking about how to select the ideal program to get your education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Many future students start by looking for colleges that are within commuting distance of their home, and then comparing the tuitions. While cost and location are critical concerns when choosing a school, they are not the only ones. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. And if you are interested in studying in your home in front of your computer instead of in a classroom, then finding an accredited online school will also be part of your vetting process. We will go over these qualifications and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's take a look at what a pharmacy technician does, the diploma and degree options available, and the benefits of online programs.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have various job duties, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed West Allis WI pharmacist. They must also have good customer service abilities since they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be precise when preparing prescription drugs per the pharmacist's instructions. And they need to have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical literature and information. However, under no situation should they ever offer medical advice regarding medications or anything else. All such questions would be addressed by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily services a pharmacy tech might carry out are:

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

As a consequence of their profession, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day on their feet. And working weekends and evenings is also very common, particularly for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is a very gratifying career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Tech Degree Programs

Students wishing to enroll in a pharmacy tech program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are basically two options to becoming a technician whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a certificate or a diploma, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an introduction to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. A number of programs also require an internship at an approved West Allis WI pharmacy or other facility. The second option is the Associate Degree program which generally takes 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 level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate choose to become certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Choices

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech programs elect to become certified in order to be more competitive when seeking employment. Additionally, a number of West Allis WI pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. There are two organizations that provide certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requires 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 work experience. The PTCB only requires that the applicant has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is called for every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacy technician online program, it's important to understand that the majority of schools do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical setting. 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 an experienced pharmacy technician so as to obtain some real world experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed over the internet in your West Allis WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, especially for those who continue to work while attaining their degree or certificate. And online schools are frequently less expensive than traditional options. Tuition and expenditures for commuting and course materials may be decreased significantly. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is important for obtaining employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So confirm that any online college 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 study with a less formal type of education, then online training may be the ideal solution for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician schools to choose from in the West Allis WI area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your West Allis residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you must take into consideration in order to properly compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.

Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Don't forget to check 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 ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of West Allis WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with West Allis WI area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in West Allis WI after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their West Allis WI home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually 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 student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist technician school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the West Allis WI area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.

Learn More on Becoming a Pharmacy Tech in West Allis

Enroll in the Right West Allis Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the best pharmacy tech training is a critical first step to beginning your career in a rewarding occupation where helping customers with their wellness is your purpose. Traditionally, most pharmacist techs were taught "on the job". Nowadays, most pharmacies can no longer operate this way and much prefer to hire formally educated techs. Training is provided by vocational and trade schools, technical colleges as well as community colleges. A large number of pharmacist tech programs include both classroom and clinical training. As we have covered in this article, it's necessary to choose a college that is accredited and will ready you for certification. This is true both for online classes as well as for those attended on campus. If you follow our other tips you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are sure to make the best choice. With the right training and determination you can accomplish your goal to become a pharmacy tech in West Allis Wisconsin.

 

West Allis Pharmacy Technician Schools | West Allis Pharmacy Technician Training