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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have determined whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to pick from in the Santa Paula CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Santa Paula home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are many other issues that you should consider so that you may effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Santa Paula 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 all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician college needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This requirement can be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Santa Paula CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first job in Santa Paula CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult task without any support. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If so, 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 profession generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they decide on will need to be within travelling distance of their Santa Paula CA residence. Students who have opted to attend classes online 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 keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering 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 final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Santa Paula CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.