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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy technician schools to pick from in the Orangevale CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Orangevale home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other factors that you should consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among 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 verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And many Orangevale CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which can be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with Orangevale CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Orangevale CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting task without any help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Orangevale CA home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician program you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Orangevale CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.