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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have decided whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to choose from in the Texarkana AR area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Texarkana home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other factors that you should take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it might assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Texarkana AR 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 every state, but numerous employers prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition may be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Texarkana AR area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Texarkana AR upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without some support. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Texarkana AR residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at 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 ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Texarkana AR area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.