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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have determined whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech colleges to select from in the Carlsbad CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Carlsbad residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you should consider in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Carlsbad CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many pharmacies desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways 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 practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Carlsbad CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Carlsbad CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Carlsbad CA home. Students who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Carlsbad CA area, confirm 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 have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.