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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech colleges to pick from in the Dixon CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Dixon home. 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 many other variables that you must take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Dixon CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This condition may be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with Dixon CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Dixon CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some support. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Dixon CA residence. Those who have chosen 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 might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for 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 back of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average student to teacher 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 speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Dixon CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.