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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have decided whether you would like to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist technician colleges to choose from in the Shafter CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Shafter residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other issues that you should take into consideration in order to effectively compare colleges. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have acquired a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to furnish a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it might assist in getting financial aid or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Shafter CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Ready 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 tech college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be met by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires one year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician 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 schools have associations with Shafter CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Shafter CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a daunting task without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, ask 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 demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will have to be within commuting distance of their Shafter CA home. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at 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 final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacist tech college you ultimately pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Shafter CA area, check that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.