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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are many pharmacy tech schools to pick from in the San Gabriel CA area and throughout the Country, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your San Gabriel residence. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other factors that you must take into consideration so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it might help in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many San Gabriel CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech school should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. 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 College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with San Gabriel CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first job in San Gabriel CA upon graduation, especially with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any help. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their San Gabriel CA home. Those who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the San Gabriel CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.