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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the North Fair Oaks CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your North Fair Oaks home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you should consider in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete superior education. Online colleges may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of North Fair Oaks 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 every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep 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 fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with North Fair Oaks CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial position in North Fair Oaks CA after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their North Fair Oaks CA home. Those who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps 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 for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the North Fair Oaks CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.