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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have determined whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the Cudahy CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Cudahy home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other variables that you must consider in order to properly compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Cudahy CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement can be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Cudahy CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Cudahy CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without some help. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Cudahy CA residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program 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 generally charge a higher tuition for 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 rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Cudahy CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.