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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have determined whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Covina CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Covina residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other issues that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national 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 quality education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it might assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Covina CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician program needs to prepare 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 qualification 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 job experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician 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 an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Covina CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Covina CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any support. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Covina CA residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep 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 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 don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician school you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Covina CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.