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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Tucson AZ area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Tucson residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Tucson AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician college should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Tucson AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in Tucson AZ upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some help. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Tucson AZ home. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Tucson AZ area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.