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What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Programs
After you have decided whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician schools to select from in the Tustin CA area and throughout the USA, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Tustin home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you need to take into consideration in order to properly compare programs. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech programs and trade schools have obtained a regional or national accreditation. Among 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 offer a comprehensive quality education. Online programs may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Tustin CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
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 are certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to ready its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification can be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which can be fulfilled 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 clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Tustin CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial position in Tustin CA upon graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting task without any help. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has a good reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will have to be within driving distance of their Tustin CA home. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally 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 consider is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Tustin CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.