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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician schools to choose from in the Alameda CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Alameda residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you need to consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Don't forget to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Alameda CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement may be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Alameda CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Alameda CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting task without some help. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Alameda CA home. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even 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 often charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering 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 talk with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Alameda CA area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. 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.