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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
Once you have decided whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to select from in the South El Monte CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop 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 programs that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your South El Monte home. If you are able to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are a number of other variables that you should take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician colleges and vocational schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Don't forget to check that the certificate or degree program together with the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping make sure that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of South El Monte CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of job experience. This condition may be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. One of the best ways to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work 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 fulfill the requirement. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with South El Monte CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in South El Monte CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any support. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have job placement programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they select will have to be within travelling distance of their South El Monte CA home. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically 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 likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are looking at what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the South El Monte CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.