It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Lake Forest CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Lake Forest home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional 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 certified to provide a complete superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Lake Forest CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This qualification can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Lake Forest CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Lake Forest CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without some help. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Lake Forest CA residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required 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 live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. 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 some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Lake Forest 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 carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.