It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist technician schools to choose from in the Half Moon Bay CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop 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 colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Half Moon Bay residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare programs. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may help in getting 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 a number of Half Moon Bay CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers desire that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Half Moon Bay CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Half Moon Bay CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Ask if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they select will have to be within driving distance of their Half Moon Bay CA residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Half Moon Bay CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.