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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have determined whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech colleges to select from in the Lincoln 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 initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Lincoln home. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Lincoln CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist technician school should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain hands on 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 an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Lincoln CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Lincoln CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any support. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If so, ask 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 indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Lincoln CA home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally 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 program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Lincoln CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.