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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have determined whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist tech schools to choose from in the Nipomo CA area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Nipomo home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you must consider so that you may properly compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among 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 furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Don't forget to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it might assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Nipomo CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech college needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition may be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Nipomo CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Finding that first position in Nipomo CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor 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 high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Nipomo CA home. Those who have decided 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. 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 be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech program you finally choose can furnish 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 Nipomo 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 credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.