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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
Once you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to select from in the Hawthorne CA area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Hawthorne home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other factors that you should consider in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Hawthorne CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This qualification may be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Hawthorne CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Hawthorne CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Hawthorne CA home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. 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 several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Hawthorne CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.