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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have decided whether you wish to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Rancho San Diego CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Rancho San Diego home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to 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 School Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Rancho San Diego CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This qualification can be met by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician 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 fulfill the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Rancho San Diego CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first job in Rancho San Diego CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a difficult undertaking without some help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Rancho San Diego CA residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry 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 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 typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech program you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Rancho San Diego CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.
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