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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges
Once you have determined whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can begin to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech schools to pick from in the Vacaville CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Vacaville residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be critical. But there are many other variables that you need to consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and vocational schools have acquired a national or regional 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 evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with distance or online learning. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program as well as the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And a number of Vacaville CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Prep You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in all states, but many employers desire that the technicians they employ are certified. The pharmacist tech school needs to prepare its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of professional experience. This requirement may be fulfilled by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA mandates a year of experience for certification, which can be met with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the colleges have associations with Vacaville CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that first position in Vacaville CA after graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a challenging task without some support. Find out if the schools you are researching have job placement programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the school has a good reputation within the field generating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they choose will need to be within travelling distance of their Vacaville CA home. Those who have decided 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 concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to talk with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly essential if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Vacaville CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative 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 because of work, illness or family obligations.