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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech programs to select from in the Altadena CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Altadena home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Altadena CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech program should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain 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 in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Altadena CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Altadena CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Altadena CA residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble 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 perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Altadena CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.