Pharmacy Tech School
How to Find the Best One Near Whitewater Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to attain your pharmacy tech degree or certificate near Whitewater WI, you may be pondering how to select the right school to get your education and training. Of course the initial step is to find schools that offer the certificate or degree that you are interested in. Many future students begin by looking for schools that are within driving distance of their residence, and then comparing the cost. While cost and location are important factors when choosing a school, they are not the sole ones. Qualifications including accreditation and reputation should be evaluated also. You might also decide to look into several accredited online pharmacy tech programs as an alternative to attending classes on campus. We will cover these qualifications and others that you will want to include when reviewing pharmacy technician schools. But to begin with, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the diploma and degree options available, and the advantages of online courses.

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Pharmacy Technician Job Responsibilities

Pharmacy techs have many job duties, but their main duty is to dispense prescription medicines. Since they are not licensed, when dispensing prescriptions they must work under the supervision of a licensed Whitewater WI pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills because 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 need to have an in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical terms in order that they can help customers with understanding instructions for their prescriptions in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. On the other hand, under no situation should they ever give medical advice relating to prescriptions or anything else. Any such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. A few of the common daily functions a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Greet and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription drugs under pharmacist guidance
• Add prescription and customer information into pharmacy computer system
• Contact customers when their medications are ready for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Stock shelves and monitor and control inventory

Due to the nature 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 technicians with low seniority. But the payoff for occasional tired and aching feet or at times having to work off-hours is a very rewarding career helping customers with their health and well-being.

Pharmacy Technician Degrees and Diplomas

Individuals desiring to enroll in a pharmacy tech college are qualified as long as they have a high school diploma or a GED. There are essentially two alternatives to training to be a tech whether you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to earn a diploma or a certificate, which usually can be completed in a year or less. These programs provide an overview to the different aspects of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include classroom and lab training. Numerous programs also include an internship at an accepted Whitewater WI pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually involves about 2 years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does offer a more extensive education and can lead to more advanced positions or education in the future. Each program can provide the proper amount of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam should the graduate decide to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certification Options

Certification is not required in every state, but a large number of graduates of pharmacy tech colleges choose to get certified so as to be more competitive in the job market. Also, a number of Whitewater WI pharmacies will only hire a tech that has earned certification. 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, be a high school graduate, has finished a training program, and has one or more years of work experience. The PTCB just requires that the candidate has graduated high school and passes their exam. Recertification is required every 2 years by each program, which can be met by completing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Programs Online

Prior to choosing a pharmacist tech online program, it's necessary to realize that most schools do require a portion of the training be completed in a clinical environment. This is commonly fulfilled in a local Whitewater pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the benefit of working with an experienced pharmacy tech in order to obtain some work place experience. Fortunately the non-clinical portion of the training may be taken over the internet in your Whitewater WI home or via any available computer. This alternative is more accommodating for most students, particularly for those who continue to work while earning their certificate or degree. And online programs are sometimes more affordable than traditional options. Tuition and costs for driving and course materials may be decreased substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a complete education is provided. But not all online colleges are accredited, which is critical for securing certification and employment (more on accreditation later). So verify that each online college you are considering is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less structured form of education, then online classes might be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools

After you have decided whether you want 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 options. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Whitewater WI area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Whitewater residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you must consider so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Whitewater WI pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.

Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.

Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Whitewater WI area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Whitewater WI upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within driving distance of their Whitewater WI home. Students who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech college you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Whitewater WI area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.

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

Enroll in the Right Whitewater Pharmacy Tech School

Finding the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a fulfilling profession where assisting customers with their health is your purpose. Traditionally, many pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of employers can no longer afford to do this and much prefer to hire formally trained technicians. Training is provided by technical colleges, vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy technician programs include both classroom and clinical training. As we have addressed in this article, it's essential to enroll in a school that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This applies both for classes online and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our other suggestions you will be able to evaluate colleges so that you are certain to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate education and dedication you can realize your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Whitewater Wisconsin.

 

Whitewater Pharmacy Technician Schools | Whitewater Pharmacy Technician Training