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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the New Kingman Butler AZ area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your New Kingman Butler 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 factors that you must consider in order to adequately compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many New Kingman Butler AZ pharmacies 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 required in every state, but many employers desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician school should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This qualification can be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with New Kingman Butler AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in New Kingman Butler AZ after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some support. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, 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 field generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their New Kingman Butler AZ home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing 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 a chance to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the New Kingman Butler AZ area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.