It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have decided whether you want 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 many pharmacy tech programs to pick from in the Redding CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Redding home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are several other factors that you need to take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have acquired 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 certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring 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 Redding 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 mandated in every state, but many employers desire that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which can be fulfilled through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with Redding CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Redding CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Ask if the colleges you are looking at 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 signifies that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Redding CA home. Those who have decided 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 concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps 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 commonly charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Redding CA area, verify 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 carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.