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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
Once you have decided whether you wish to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can begin to target your school options. There are many pharmacy technician schools to select from in the Valinda CA area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare community colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for programs that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Valinda residence. If you are able to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you must consider so that you may properly compare programs. The questions below will help you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician colleges and trade schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to offer a comprehensive superior education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with distance or online education. Make sure to confirm that the degree or certificate program in addition to the school you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you receive a superior education, it might help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might require that the training program is accredited. And a number of Valinda CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of pharmacies prefer that the techs they employ are certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of job experience. This requirement may be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Provide Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled through an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the colleges have associations with Valinda CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first job in Valinda CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any help. Find out if the schools you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the college they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Valinda CA home. Students who have opted to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally 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.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Valinda CA area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.