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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have determined whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacy tech schools to select from in the East Palo Alto CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your East Palo Alto residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many East Palo Alto 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 many employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This condition can be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with East Palo Alto CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in East Palo Alto CA after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some support. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they pick will have to be within commuting distance of their East Palo Alto CA home. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously 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 decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit way 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 reviewing what the typical student to teacher 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 an opportunity to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician program you finally select can provide 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 East Palo Alto CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.
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