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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy technician programs to choose from in the North Hollywood CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your North Hollywood residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And many North Hollywood CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech school should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This requirement can be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with North Hollywood CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in North Hollywood CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any help. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the profession generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their North Hollywood CA home. Individuals who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to concern 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 college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big 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 likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech school you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the North Hollywood CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.