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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have determined whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Goleta CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Goleta residence. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other variables that you need to consider in order to properly compare schools. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a superior education, it might help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Goleta 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 mandated in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician program should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician 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 a great way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Goleta CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that initial job in Goleta CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a difficult task without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Goleta CA home. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern 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 decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Goleta CA area, confirm that they are offered. 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 need to carry. 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.