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Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have decided whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician colleges to select from in the Hermosa Beach CA area and throughout the Country, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Hermosa Beach home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Don't forget to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Hermosa Beach CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This condition can be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train 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 meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Hermosa Beach CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial job in Hermosa Beach CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without some help. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Hermosa Beach CA home. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes naturally 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 even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Hermosa Beach CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.