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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech programs to pick from in the East Rancho Dominguez CA area and throughout the United States, so you should 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 initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your East Rancho Dominguez residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other variables that you should consider so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many East Rancho Dominguez CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with East Rancho Dominguez CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in East Rancho Dominguez CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any support. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their East Rancho Dominguez CA home. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area 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 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 frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the East Rancho Dominguez CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.