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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After 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 narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech programs to choose from in the Mission Viejo CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Mission Viejo home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you must consider so that you may adequately compare schools. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have obtained 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 furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it might help in acquiring 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 many Mission Viejo CA pharmacies 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 required in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech program should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be met by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the colleges have a working relationship with Mission Viejo CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Mission Viejo CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some help. Find out if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Mission Viejo CA home. Individuals who have chosen 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 consider is that if you decide to enroll in a school 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 typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Mission Viejo CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.