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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
Once you have decided whether you wish to obtain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are a large number of pharmacist technician programs to select from in the West Hollywood CA area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and technical schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably initially look for programs that are within both your financial resources and driving distance from your West Hollywood home. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are a number of other factors that you must consider in order to properly compare programs. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Most pharmacist technician programs and vocational schools have acquired 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 certified to offer a comprehensive quality education. Online colleges may additionally earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals exclusively with online or distance education. Be sure to confirm that the certificate or degree program in addition to the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may assist in getting financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not accessible for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of West Hollywood CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous pharmacies prefer that the technicians they hire be certified. The pharmacy technician program should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of job experience. This condition can be satisfied by entering a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just discussed, the NHA mandates a year of job experience for certification, which can be satisfied by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to acquire hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with West Hollywood CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Give Job Placement Assistance? Finding that initial position in West Hollywood CA upon graduation, particularly with no professional experience, can be a daunting endeavor without any support. Ask if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If so, 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 profession creating demand for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of employer contacts where it can place graduates.
Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their West Hollywood CA home. Students who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing 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 be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently 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 far in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher 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 speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program also.
Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the pharmacy tech college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the West Hollywood CA area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.