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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have decided whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to select from in the Centerton AR area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Centerton home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have obtained 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 verified to offer a complete superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Don't forget to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Centerton AR employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be met by entering a college 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 fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Centerton AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Centerton AR upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting task without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, 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 generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Centerton AR residence. Those who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Centerton AR area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.