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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
Once you have decided whether you would like 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 options. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to pick from in the Fair Oaks CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Fair Oaks residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you should consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges 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). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you get a superior education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Fair Oaks CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This condition may be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Fair Oaks CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Fair Oaks CA upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a challenging task without some assistance. Ask 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 indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Fair Oaks CA residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech college you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Fair Oaks CA area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.