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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you would like to earn a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician schools to select from in the Sherman Oaks CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Sherman Oaks home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you should take into consideration so that you may properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national 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 evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance 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 sanctioned accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Sherman Oaks CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech college should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA requires 1 year of job experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician 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 a great way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Sherman Oaks CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Offer Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial position in Sherman Oaks CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without any support. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Sherman Oaks CA residence. Students who have chosen 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. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the pharmacy tech college you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Sherman Oaks CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.