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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have determined whether you want to attain a certificate or degree, and if you want to enroll in an online program or go to classes on campus, you can start to target your school options. There are many pharmacist technician programs to choose from in the Cape Girardeau MO area and throughout the United States, so you need to create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast community colleges and trade schools. As we discussed in our introduction, you will most likely initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Cape Girardeau home. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be important. But there are several other variables that you need to consider so that you may effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final decision.
Is the Pharmacy Technician School Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have earned a regional or national accreditation. Among 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 comprehensive quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance learning. Make sure to verify that the certificate or degree program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Cape Girardeau MO 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 all states, but many employers prefer that the technicians they employ be certified. The pharmacy tech college needs to prep its students to pass the NHA or the PTCB exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will also need one year of work experience. This condition can be fulfilled by taking part in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the School Offer Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA requires a year of professional experience for certification, which can be fulfilled with an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require clinical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Find out if the programs have associations with Cape Girardeau MO area pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals for internship programs.
Does the College Provide Job Placement Assistance? Securing that first position in Cape Girardeau MO after graduation, particularly with no experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any help. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have job assistance programs. If so, ask 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 appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a sizable network of pharmacy relationships where it can refer graduating students.
Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they pick will have to be within travelling distance of their Cape Girardeau MO home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps 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 generally charge a higher tuition to those students that don't reside within their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the schools you are considering what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the pharmacist tech school you ultimately choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Cape Girardeau MO area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family obligations.