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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Banning CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Banning residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you should take into consideration in order to properly compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can help 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 Banning CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech school should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This condition may be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Banning CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Banning CA after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without any help. Ask if the colleges you are researching 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 college has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Banning CA residence. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry 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 decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly 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 are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average 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 a chance to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy tech college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Banning CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.