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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Glendale CA area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Glendale home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you need to consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional 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 certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Glendale CA employers 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 a number of employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician 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 meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Glendale CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Glendale CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting task without some support. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Glendale 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 choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly 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 student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching 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 determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy tech college you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Glendale CA area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family obligations.