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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician schools to pick from in the Maywood CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Maywood residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you need to consider so that you may properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a complete superior education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Maywood CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This requirement may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Maywood CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Maywood CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging task without any support. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, 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 field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their Maywood CA residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern 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 choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Maywood CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.