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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have decided whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician programs to select from in the Lompoc CA area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Lompoc residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other factors that you should consider so that you may properly compare schools. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among 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 colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Be sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Lompoc CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which can be met 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 certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Lompoc CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in Lompoc CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without some support. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Lompoc CA home. Those who have opted 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 concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually 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 Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing 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 ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Lompoc CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.