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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
Once you have determined 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 begin to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the Laguna Beach CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Laguna Beach home. 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 need to consider in order to adequately compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many Laguna Beach CA pharmacies 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 many pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the colleges have a working relationship with Laguna Beach CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Finding that initial position in Laguna Beach CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without some help. Ask 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 indication that the college has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Laguna Beach CA residence. Students who have decided 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 choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the typical 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 decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Laguna Beach CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option 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 might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.