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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have determined whether you wish 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 narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician colleges to select from in the Palm Springs CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Palm Springs home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you must consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? Many pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Palm Springs CA pharmacies 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 mandated in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This condition can be satisfied by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Palm Springs CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Palm Springs CA after graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some help. Find out if the schools you are considering 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 college has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Palm Springs CA residence. Those who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school 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 often charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Palm Springs CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.