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Points to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have decided whether you would like to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech programs to select from in the Union City CA area and throughout the Country, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will probably initially look for colleges that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Union City home. If you are willing to move or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be significant. But there are many other issues that you need to consider so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have earned a national or regional accreditation. Among the most highly regarded accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it might assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And many Union City CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacist tech program should prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of job experience. This requirement may be satisfied by entering a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of job experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. One of the best ways to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Union City CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Union City CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without some support. Find out if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent 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 graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will need to be within commuting distance of their Union City CA home. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Union City CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative 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 as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.