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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have decided whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician schools to pick from in the Oildale CA area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Oildale residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other factors that you should take into consideration so that you may effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have acquired 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 provide a complete quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it might help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Oildale CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Oildale CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in Oildale CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting task without some help. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they choose will have to be within driving distance of their Oildale CA residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. 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 instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Oildale CA area, check 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 carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.