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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Sun Lakes AZ area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Sun Lakes home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a complete superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. 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. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it might help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Sun Lakes AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician college needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Sun Lakes AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in Sun Lakes AZ after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting task without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are considering 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 sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Sun Lakes AZ residence. Students who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. 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 may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech college you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Sun Lakes AZ area, check that they are available. 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 carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.