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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
After you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, 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 technician colleges to choose from in the Red Bluff CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Red Bluff home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may adequately compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a superior education, it can help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Red Bluff CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist technician college needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This condition may be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have a working relationship with Red Bluff CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first job in Red Bluff CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Red Bluff CA home. Those who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the pharmacist technician school you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Red Bluff CA area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.