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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have decided whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the Fort Mohave AZ area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Fort Mohave residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Fort Mohave AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This condition may be satisfied by taking part in a college 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 satisfied with 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 degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Fort Mohave AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Fort Mohave AZ upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are looking at 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 pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Fort Mohave AZ residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges 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 instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Fort Mohave AZ area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. 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.