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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have decided whether you would like to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacy technician colleges to pick from in the Silver Lake CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and technical schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Silver Lake home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other factors that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare colleges. The following questions will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy technician colleges and vocational schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to furnish a complete superior education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with distance or online learning. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Silver Lake CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This condition can be met by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to fulfill the requirement. Check if the schools have associations with Silver Lake CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Silver Lake CA upon graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a challenging undertaking without any assistance. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the school they choose will need to be within driving distance of their Silver Lake CA home. Those who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. 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 need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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 person that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Silver Lake CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.