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Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you wish to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to choose from in the Atwater CA area and throughout the Country, 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 probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Atwater residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you need to consider so that you may adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Atwater 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 a number of employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Atwater CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Atwater CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any support. Find out if the colleges you are researching 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 indicates that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Atwater CA residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry 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 have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. 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 several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Atwater CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.