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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Coachella CA area and throughout the Country, so you should 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 programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Coachella residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among 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 superior education. Online schools may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a superior education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Coachella CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician college should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on 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 meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Coachella CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Coachella CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some help. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they select will need to be within driving distance of their Coachella CA home. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally 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 school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy technician college you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Coachella CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.