It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy technician colleges to select from in the Ripon CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Ripon home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other issues that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
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 certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Ripon CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many employers prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist tech college should ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which may be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech 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 fulfill the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Ripon CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Ripon CA after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some assistance. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job placement 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 profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Ripon CA home. Students who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes permit 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 classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Ripon CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.