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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Escondido CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Escondido residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other issues that you should consider in order to effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete superior education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it might help 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 a number of Escondido CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition may be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Escondido CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Escondido CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Ask if the schools you are considering 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 a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Escondido CA home. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. 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 speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Escondido CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.