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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Verde Village AZ area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Verde Village home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you need to consider so that you may properly compare programs. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Verde Village AZ pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician college should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician 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 Verde Village AZ area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Verde Village AZ upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Verde Village AZ home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern 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 choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Verde Village AZ area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.