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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Colleges
Once you have determined 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 start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Vincent CA area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and vocational schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will most likely first start looking for schools that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your Vincent residence. If you are able to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be significant. But there are many other variables that you need to consider so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will assist you in gathering that information and help you to make your final selection.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacy technician programs and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. One of the most highly regarded 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 additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance learning. Make sure to check that the certificate or degree program together with the college you choose are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it might help in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And many Vincent CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech school needs to prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This qualification may be met by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires one year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Vincent CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that initial job in Vincent CA after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any help. Ask if the schools you are considering have job assistance programs. If so, 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 profession creating demand for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the College Located? For many students, the college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Vincent CA residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually 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 prefers to sit way in the back of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacist technician college you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Vincent CA area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.