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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have decided whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Canoga Park CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Canoga Park home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you should take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Canoga Park CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Canoga Park CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Canoga Park CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any help. Ask if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Canoga Park CA home. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable 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 ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Canoga Park CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.