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Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Hesperia CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Hesperia home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you need to consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Hesperia CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This requirement may be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Hesperia CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Hesperia CA after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without some support. Ask if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Hesperia CA residence. Students who have decided 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 keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Hesperia CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.