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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have determined whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the Placentia CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Placentia residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other factors that you should take into consideration so that you may effectively compare programs. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among 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 certified to provide a complete superior education. Online programs may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Placentia CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous employers desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition may be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have associations with Placentia CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Placentia CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Placentia CA home. Students who have opted to attend classes online obviously will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college 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 generally 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 student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist technician college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Placentia CA area, check that they are available. 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, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.