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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have determined whether you want to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist tech schools to select from in the Oceanside CA area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Oceanside home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other factors that you should consider in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it might assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Oceanside CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician program should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train 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 meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with Oceanside CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Oceanside CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some assistance. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Oceanside CA residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may 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 for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Oceanside CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.