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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have decided whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech programs to select from in the San Rafael CA area and throughout the USA, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical 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 Rafael home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other variables that you need to consider in order to effectively compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have earned a regional or national 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 offer a complete quality education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of San Rafael CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but many employers prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement may be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train 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 fulfill the requirement. Check if the programs have a working relationship with San Rafael CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in San Rafael CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a difficult task without some help. Ask if the schools 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 signifies that it has a substantial network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will need to be within travelling distance of their San Rafael CA residence. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose 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 normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the San Rafael CA area, confirm that they are available. 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 enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.