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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician programs to pick from in the El Monte CA area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your El Monte residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you must take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Don't forget to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it might assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many El Monte CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with El Monte CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in El Monte CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their El Monte CA home. Those who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing 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 may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. 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 talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the El Monte CA area, check 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 carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family obligations.