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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have decided whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Fortuna Foothills AZ area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast 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 driving distance from your Fortuna Foothills residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you should consider in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Fortuna Foothills AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Fortuna Foothills AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial position in Fortuna Foothills AZ after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging task without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Fortuna Foothills AZ home. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student 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 instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Fortuna Foothills AZ area, make certain that they are available. 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 have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.