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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist technician schools to select from in the Rosamond CA area and throughout the USA, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Rosamond residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you need to take into consideration so that you may effectively compare programs. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among 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 provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Rosamond CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers desire that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement may be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires one year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with Rosamond CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Rosamond CA upon graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some support. Find out if the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Rosamond CA residence. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Rosamond CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.