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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have determined whether you wish 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 target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Avocado Heights CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Avocado Heights residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may properly compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Avocado Heights CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Avocado Heights CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Avocado Heights CA after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging task without some help. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Avocado Heights CA residence. Students who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Avocado Heights CA area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.