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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have determined whether you would like to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech colleges to select from in the Costa Mesa CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Costa Mesa residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are several other issues that you must consider in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Costa Mesa CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification can be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the schools have a working relationship with Costa Mesa CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Costa Mesa CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without some support. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance 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 field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Costa Mesa CA home. Students who have opted 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 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 may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Costa Mesa CA area, check that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.