It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Pharmacy Tech Career Below
Points to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have decided whether you wish to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to select from in the Shadow Hills CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Shadow Hills home. If you are willing to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are many other issues that you must consider in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Be sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the college you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Shadow Hills CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of pharmacies desire that the technicians they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech program needs to prepare 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 can be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates a year of professional experience for certification, which may be met through an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with Shadow Hills CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Help? Getting that first job in Shadow Hills CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult task without any support. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Shadow Hills CA residence. Students who have chosen 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. 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 may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Shadow Hills CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family obligations.