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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have decided whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online college or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are a large number of pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Westmont CA area and throughout the United States, so you must develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can compare colleges and vocational 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 Westmont residence. If you are able to move 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 issues that you should consider in order to properly compare colleges. The following questions will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Tech College Accredited? Many pharmacist tech colleges and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. One of the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Schools earning accreditation from the ASHP have been screened and verified to provide a complete superior education. Online colleges may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Don't forget to confirm that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you select are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it might assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Westmont CA employers will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the Program Prepare You for Certification? Certification is not required in all states, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college should prep its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA examination. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of professional experience. This qualification may be satisfied by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Sponsor Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of professional experience for certification, which may be satisfied with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to obtain hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to fulfill the requirement. Find out if the schools have associations with Westmont CA area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Assistance? Getting that initial position in Westmont CA upon graduation, especially with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without some support. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have job assistance programs. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the college has an excellent reputation within the field generating appeal for its graduates. It also signifies that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Westmont CA home. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician school you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Westmont CA area, make sure that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.