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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Technician Schools
Once you have determined whether you want to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you want to enroll in an online school or attend classes on campus, you can start to target your school alternatives. There are many pharmacist tech programs to choose from in the Bay City TX area and throughout the USA, so you should develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we covered in our introduction, you will probably first start looking for schools that are within both your financial budget and driving distance from your Bay City home. If you are willing to relocate or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech program, then location may not be important. But there are many other issues that you must take into consideration in order to adequately compare schools. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your final choice.
Is the Pharmacy Technician Program Accredited? Many pharmacy tech colleges 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 evaluated and verified to furnish a complete quality education. Online schools may additionally obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited colleges. Also, certification may require that the training program is accredited. And many Bay City TX pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have graduated from an accredited program.
Does the School Ready You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but many pharmacies prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacist tech program 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 professional experience. This qualification may be satisfied by participating in a school sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires 1 year of experience for certification, which can be satisfied through an internship program. One of the best ways to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy technician certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is a great way to meet the requirement. Check if the colleges have associations with Bay City TX area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Finding that first job in Bay City TX after graduation, especially with no professional experience, can be a daunting undertaking without any assistance. Ask if the colleges you are researching have job assistance programs. If they do, ask what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indicator that the school has a good reputation within the field creating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a substantial network of pharmacy contacts where it can refer graduates.
Where is the College Located? For a number of students, the school they choose will have to be within travelling distance of their Bay City TX home. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges usually 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 Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the pharmacy technician program you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Bay City TX area, confirm that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family obligations.