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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
After you have decided whether you want to obtain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech programs to pick from in the Spring Valley CA area and throughout the Country, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Spring Valley home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other variables that you must consider in order to effectively compare schools. The following questions will assist you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate selection.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? Most pharmacist tech 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). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and certified to provide a comprehensive quality 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 check that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Spring Valley CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many employers desire that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician program should ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work 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 satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Spring Valley CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Help? Getting that first position in Spring Valley CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without some support. Find out if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Spring Valley 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 local internships will be of importance. One thing to keep 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 may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges 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 final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Spring Valley CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.