It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, 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 a large number of pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Gilroy CA area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Gilroy home. 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 several other factors that you must consider so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional 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 screened and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Gilroy CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways 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 practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Gilroy CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Gilroy CA after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without some support. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they select will have to be within driving distance of their Gilroy CA home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry 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 program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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 kind of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average teacher to student 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 speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Gilroy CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative 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 as a result of work, illness or family obligations.