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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician programs to select from in the Coalinga CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Coalinga home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other variables that you must take into consideration so that you may adequately compare schools. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among 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 programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a quality education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Coalinga CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech school should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train 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 satisfy the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Coalinga CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Coalinga CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out 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 means that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Coalinga CA home. Those who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Coalinga CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.