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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist tech colleges to select from in the Burlingame CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Burlingame residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional 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 screened and certified to furnish a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Burlingame CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician program should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Burlingame CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Burlingame CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Burlingame CA residence. Students who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required 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.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student 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 a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech college you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Burlingame CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.