It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
Once you have determined whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Scottsboro AL area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Scottsboro home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other issues that you need to consider so that you may adequately compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Scottsboro AL pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This qualification can be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Scottsboro AL area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Scottsboro AL upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without any support. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Scottsboro AL home. Students who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern 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 school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost 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 average 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 an opportunity to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy tech college you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Scottsboro AL area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.