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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have decided whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Florence Graham CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Florence Graham residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other factors that you must take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Florence Graham CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of employers desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Florence Graham CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Florence Graham CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Florence Graham CA residence. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes 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 keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller 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 prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Florence Graham CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out 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 due to work, illness or family emergencies.