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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have determined whether you would like to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Rio Linda CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Rio Linda residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you should consider so that you may properly compare colleges. The following questions will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it might assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Rio Linda CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prepare 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 may be satisfied by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Rio Linda CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Rio Linda CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any assistance. Ask 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 generating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Rio Linda CA residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you decide 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 often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Rio Linda CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.