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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
Once you have decided whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to select from in the Anthem AZ area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Anthem residence. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you must take into consideration in order to properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you get a quality education, it may help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Anthem AZ employers 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 numerous employers desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with Anthem AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Anthem AZ after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, ask 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 appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Anthem AZ residence. Students who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have 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.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Anthem AZ area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.