It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech colleges to choose from in the Calabasas CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Calabasas home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Calabasas CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician college should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification can be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Calabasas CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Calabasas CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting task without some support. Ask if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within driving distance of their Calabasas CA residence. Those who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble 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 college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have 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 live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Calabasas CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.