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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Peoria AZ area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Peoria residence. 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 several other variables that you must consider so that you may properly compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Peoria AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied 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 satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Peoria AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Peoria AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult task without any support. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Peoria AZ home. Those who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student 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 a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech school you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Peoria AZ area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.