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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have determined whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the Paramount CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Paramount home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you get a superior education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Paramount CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers prefer that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification can be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Paramount CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Paramount CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without some support. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Paramount CA residence. Those who have decided to attend online classes 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 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher 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 converse with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician school you finally select 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 Paramount CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.