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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Programs
After you have determined whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist technician colleges to select from in the Stanford CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Stanford residence. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are many other factors that you need to take into consideration in order to effectively compare schools. The questions below will assist you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacist tech colleges and vocational schools have obtained a regional or national 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 furnish a complete quality education. Online schools may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Stanford CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but numerous pharmacies desire that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prepare 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 fulfilled by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get 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 in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Stanford CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that initial job in Stanford CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a challenging endeavor without some assistance. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of employer contacts where it can place graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Stanford CA residence. Individuals who have opted to attend classes online 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 may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit way in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are researching what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician college you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Stanford CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.