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What to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have decided whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are a large number of pharmacy tech schools to select from in the Victorville CA area and throughout the United States, so you should create a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Victorville residence. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other variables that you must take into consideration so that you may adequately compare programs. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist tech programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national 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 evaluated and certified to offer a complete quality education. Online programs may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance learning. Make sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting agency. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it might help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Victorville CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacist technician school should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need one year of work experience. This requirement may be met by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously covered, the NHA mandates 1 year of job experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. One of the best ways to obtain practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech degree or certificate programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Victorville CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that first position in Victorville CA after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any assistance. Ask if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also means that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Victorville CA residence. Those who have decided 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 importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are considering what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Victorville CA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.