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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the Arcadia CA area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Arcadia home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you must consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among 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 provide a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Arcadia CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech school should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain 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 a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Arcadia CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Arcadia CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Arcadia CA home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Arcadia CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.