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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have decided 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 start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech programs to select from in the Alhambra CA area and throughout the United States, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Alhambra home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other variables that you need to consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it might assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Alhambra CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied 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 degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Alhambra CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Alhambra CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some assistance. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Alhambra CA home. Students 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 concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Alhambra CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.