It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Rogers AR area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical 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 Rogers residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Rogers AR pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Rogers AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Rogers AR after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some support. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Rogers AR residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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 are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of class 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 typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Rogers AR area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, 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 as a result of illness, work or family obligations.