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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Galt CA area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Galt home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other factors that you must consider so that you may properly compare schools. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Don't forget to check that the certificate or degree program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Galt CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Galt CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in Galt CA upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some help. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Galt CA home. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually 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.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Galt CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out 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 may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.