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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have determined whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy technician schools to select from in the Arroyo Grande CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Arroyo Grande residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Don't forget to confirm 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. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Arroyo Grande CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician college needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition may be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Arroyo Grande CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Arroyo Grande CA after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any assistance. Ask if the colleges 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 a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Arroyo Grande CA residence. Those who have chosen to attend online classes naturally 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 choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the instructors and students 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 pharmacy technician school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Arroyo Grande CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check 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 because of illness, work or family emergencies.