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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
After you have determined whether you want to earn a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech programs to select from in the South Pasadena CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your South Pasadena home. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be significant. But there are a number of other issues that you should take into consideration so that you may effectively compare schools. The following questions will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician College Accredited? Most pharmacy technician colleges and trade schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. One of 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 provide a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a quality 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 South Pasadena CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This qualification may be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates one year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the programs have a working relationship with South Pasadena CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial job in South Pasadena CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting task without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they pick will have to be within driving distance of their South Pasadena CA home. Students who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even 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 frequently charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the rear 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 schools you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician college you finally pick can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the South Pasadena CA area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family obligations.
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