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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Lake Elsinore CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Lake Elsinore home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national 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 screened and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program together with the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it might assist in securing financial aid 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 Lake Elsinore CA employers 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 a number of employers desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech school should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Lake Elsinore CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial position in Lake Elsinore CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some support. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the school they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Lake Elsinore CA residence. Those who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose 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 usually charge a higher tuition for 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 probably want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Lake Elsinore CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.