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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have determined whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy tech schools to choose from in the Santa Cruz CA area and throughout the Country, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Santa Cruz residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy tech programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a complete superior education. Online schools may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Santa Cruz 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 pharmacies desire that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist technician school needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Santa Cruz CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Santa Cruz CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the field creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they select will have to be within commuting distance of their Santa Cruz CA home. Students who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to consider 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 normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes permit 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 prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacist technician college you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Santa Cruz CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.