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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Lafayette CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Lafayette home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you get a superior education, it may assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Lafayette CA employers 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 all states, but a number of employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Lafayette CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Lafayette CA upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some help. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Lafayette CA home. Individuals 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. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Lafayette CA area, make certain that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.