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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Garden Grove CA area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Garden Grove residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you must consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Garden Grove 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 a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This requirement can be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through 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 practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Garden Grove CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Garden Grove CA after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some support. Ask if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, 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 creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Garden Grove CA residence. Students who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one 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 an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Garden Grove CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.