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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Baldwin Park CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Baldwin Park residence. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to consider in order to effectively compare programs. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Baldwin Park CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program 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 requirement may be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with Baldwin Park CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in Baldwin Park CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some assistance. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating 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 select will have to be within commuting distance of their Baldwin Park CA home. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college 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 usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Baldwin Park CA area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.