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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
Once you have determined whether you want to obtain 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 alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the Oak Park CA area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Oak Park residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you should consider so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a complete quality education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Oak Park CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician school should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates one year of experience for certification, which may be met by means of an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Oak Park CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first position in Oak Park CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Oak Park CA home. Students who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often 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 Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching 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 decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Oak Park CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.