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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have determined whether you wish 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 alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech colleges to choose from in the San Dimas CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your San Dimas home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are several other variables that you should consider in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online learning. Don't forget to verify that the certificate or degree program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you get a superior education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of San Dimas CA employers 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 all states, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of professional experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates one year of job experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with San Dimas CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Help? Securing that first job in San Dimas CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without some help. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the school they select will need to be within driving distance of their San Dimas CA residence. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. 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 also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy tech program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the San Dimas CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.