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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacy technician colleges to pick from in the Milpitas CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Milpitas home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other issues that you need to consider in order to properly compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Milpitas CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Milpitas CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in Milpitas CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any support. Ask if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Milpitas CA home. Students who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician school you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Milpitas CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.