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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have decided whether you wish to obtain 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 alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Cathedral City CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Cathedral City home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other issues that you must take into consideration so that you may effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and vocational 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 offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it might help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Cathedral City CA pharmacies 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 a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech program should prepare 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 qualification may be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with Cathedral City CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Cathedral City CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. 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 indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Cathedral City CA home. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually 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.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Cathedral City CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.