It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have decided whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy technician colleges to choose from in the Culver City CA area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Culver City residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Culver City CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech school needs to prep 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 requirement can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled 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 technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Culver City CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Culver City CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without some help. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Culver City CA home. Students who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Culver City CA area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify 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 may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.