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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
After you have decided whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacy tech programs to choose from in the San Pablo CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your San Pablo residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you must take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional 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 evaluated and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online schools may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Don't forget to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you choose 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 assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many San Pablo 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 every state, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied with 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 technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the schools have associations with San Pablo CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first position in San Pablo CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their San Pablo CA home. Those 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 concern. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy tech school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the San Pablo CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.