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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, 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 programs to select from in the Hot Springs Village AR area and throughout the Country, 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 colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Hot Springs Village residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other variables that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare schools. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Hot Springs Village AR pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician school should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Hot Springs Village AR area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial position in Hot Springs Village AR after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Hot Springs Village AR home. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician school you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Hot Springs Village AR area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.